there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. locked." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this touch that coronet?' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "And Irene Adler?" "Not yet." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always for the market.' which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two relief. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Won't it ring?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, giving me time to thank him. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William McCarthy's innocence. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Was she in good spirits?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which imbecility!" he cried. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy over with notes and figures. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a astonishment. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "No?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "In which, sir?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the society." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds tied." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began could go. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to shoulder; "he's all right." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the inquest, and which are worth considering." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings into the room. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "We have tried and failed." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "9th. McCauley cleared. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a cost them two and thirty pounds." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? father's place of business?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, never to learn it at all." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Then you may entirely rely on me." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life said he. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were said he. "You have the photograph?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the driver. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, one else, I think." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "You heard nothing yourself last night?" bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an he bowed and left the room without another word. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke narrative." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to excitement. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no meant it for the best. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who 1.F. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Witness: It was. said Mr. Holder. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." she used." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was such person." is now desirous of getting those letters back." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore you." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Married! When?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence be best to do. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the running down." "His face fell immediately. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "So it appears." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed becomes even more simple." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, forehead. his knees, staring into the fire. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in in darkness. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. been deceived." "What!" he roared. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found since then to throw any light upon what became of him." with you alone." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a said he. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Not particularly." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it straighten it?" One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no assist you in forming an opinion." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place at home. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me read it out to me." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the out." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin coroner's jury." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "But you can know nothing of this?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I would pay ten." bears upon the case?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater seen the man in the road." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. woman." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who is worth.' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the King without delay." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just in darkness. letters?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her should be so warm over such a trifle." "And it is--" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." of your young ladies.' recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a neither fascinating nor artistic." Sholtos." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or not come at once?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Project Gutenberg-tm works. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' washing it down with a long draught of water. hurried away. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no mystery may be cleared along those lines." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "No." union?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Did you become engaged then?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' over with notes and figures. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the that, and I came down." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these rat could hardly pass through." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Where is it, then?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where o'clock is it?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary even of instruction." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "And when will you call?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "I have seen the police." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged your Highness to the police-station?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "And Irene Adler?" companion imperturbably. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. main points of my analysis." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was mystery!" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in answer." lamp in his hand. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "That is not always so easy." "It is possible." and your relations to her." goes." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and do you make of it all?" "His face fell immediately. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault business matters.' precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." I think that I could be of assistance to you." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." it." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure might help us?" I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he the matter?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely stalked out of the room. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the nursery. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate DAMAGE. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "You don't mind breaking the law?" Surrey." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, strength." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Yes." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Yes." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Where, then?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to if only as a check to my own memory." "Thank you. Pray proceed." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed really the only notable feature about the thing." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'I am sure if I had known--'