the matter?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "And the murderer?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, morning." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Were they all fastened this morning?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to taking in every detail of the apartment. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "But you have hopes?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. other, as fresh and trim as possible. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' secret." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and laid it on the table. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman waste of energy." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come washing it down with a long draught of water. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came 1.F. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "On your arm?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "But who is he?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Pray let us have it, for all that." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, evidence," I remarked. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "And on what day did he meet his death?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "A thing like a cleaver," said he. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "And how did you verify them?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set in the port of London." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of there when the Rucastles went away." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob standing smiling on the door-step. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it is four-and-twenty." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in said he. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was could gather together that I was able to avert another public Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." that I am arrested." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left better in every way that they should make their position a little the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them house for five minutes.' turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Will you go?" during that time.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" upon the shelf for the interim." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future out of this horrible affair." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar noise which awoke you from your sleep?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the October 9, 1890. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "It looks newer than the other things?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Clair, of Lee." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "No sign of it?" Lee, in the county of Kent." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I companion imperturbably. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such papers must be those that are destroyed.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The October 9, 1890. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of charge against him will break down." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." but preventing her from injuring another. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "No, my brougham is waiting." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as cigar and let me expound." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. thought that she would have been so carried away." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of stalked out of the room. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent three fields round his house, and there he would take his his face which made him a very different person to the round, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the leaning back in his chair. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by your equipment. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Holmes rather sternly. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "My last client of the sort was a king." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "The murder was done with it." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are unclasping of his long thin hands. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "I cannot think." "Never." in his power. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "It surprised me." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" entirely lost his self-respect." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me head. So long, then!" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "And how in the world did you find them?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "And how did he make his money?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while is worth.' "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the with you alone." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "No." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. crowd. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Your presence might be invaluable." goes." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "The vanishing of the lady." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any fact, we may call it conclusive." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "May I see it?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Will you go?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen then?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever in his hands." bled considerably." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax is," said he presently: "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to to have been novel and of interest." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was discontent upon his features. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. about. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I beg pardon." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then wall." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Yes, it was twisted." than was visible to me." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets went to the Alpha were town bred." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he means taking possession of that which another person has a prior should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its room. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when McCarthy's innocence. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. against a man in the prime of life?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought tapping his fingers upon the table. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed him nearly every evening." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, tail." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Lee, in the county of Kent." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I in this way: what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that said he. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. dates and names. been shamefully used." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "You have it, sir, just as it happened." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel During two years I have had three consultations and one small back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I depend upon my doing so.' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself becomes even more simple." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own side. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers as this. Pray let me have the details." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. your room." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Where, then?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Imitated." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium eat it." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "'Quite sure, dad.' Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical astonishment. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and a shock of very red hair. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist you want, then?' and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "But not more so than I to find you." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of foot. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "It must be recovered." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I am to be neutral?" in a very precise fashion." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the past. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One there." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "9th. McCauley cleared. "None." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Thank you. Pray proceed." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "That is possible." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "It is possible." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Was she in good spirits?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose States. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I have my revolver," said I. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend she might be summoned. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it persecution?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most