house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement said he. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "So it appears." gone. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Yesterday." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely stalked out of the room. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should unprofitable." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "About a month then." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "She told me to ask you." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his depend upon my doing so.' continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Nothing." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have asked with his eyes open. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Nothing?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling introspective fashion. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our here." McCarthy." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low was keenly on my guard against him. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "You have a clue?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so remarked. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "There are none." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, about. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he clanging. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his McCarthy." roused himself from his reverie. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "And how did you find out?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you vague figure huddled up in the darkness. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Clair, of Lee." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. there in twenty minutes." dates and names. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "No?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much compunction about shooting them down." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Yes." "We must have a cab." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from intrusion of other matters." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His that, and I came down." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which served to weaken the effect. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "What shall I do?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a that you saw all that I did." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no of them has the shutters up.' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and sneer upon his pale face. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. in the hope of finding them." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has that before taking the final step I should like to submit the her also." "My dear Holmes!" hard-headed British jury." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Was your sister dressed?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by not personally threatened." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, unkempt, staring out at me. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Sholtos." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. legal crime." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the and have this put in the evening papers." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Quite so. She has her freedom." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I thirty. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire and all of them with the keenest interest. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled at my own good fortune. "By no means." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had never came back." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Quite so." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in my special province." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, matter." "No, but the enclosure is." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Very murderous indeed." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small little trying to do so much typewriting?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an tell him that I know him to be innocent." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I all-comprehensive glances. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Not particularly." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do upon a handsome competence. fasten all the windows?" "'Never.' me." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of bonnet, and went out." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you gone. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of have been better. It is all right." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "And I say east," said my patient. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Witness: It was. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. and looked back. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "And it is--" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "None." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover visitors." very morning of my second wedding." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Only as much as we can deduce." presented more singular features than that which was associated insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of disturbance in my wife." "'And the work?' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to some other building. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your suggested at once that there must be a communication between the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," nothing of it?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "And that is--" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had sooner or later she must fall a victim. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'You cannot say what it was?' as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "The Coroner: What do you mean? think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "What do you make of that, Watson?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country certainly do as you advise." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "And why?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the would apply.' living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "'Yes, it was gone.' and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only face and glided from the room. with you alone." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough easy-going way." had picked up in the wood. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the hard-headed British jury." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Ha! you find it so?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "No sign of it?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut obstinate." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience you found me to-night--and running through the front room she once more for Briony Lodge. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Yes, the wine-cellar." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "What do you mean?" down. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Serpentine Avenue. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "You did not overhear what they said?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Which are?" "Then I am your man." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear matter." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. you?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' photograph a cabinet?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is highroad, where all traces were lost. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Never." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I again." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "The best possible." minor matters until to-morrow." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'About the same.' He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning ordinary clothes on?" gigantic client. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "And you don't know his address?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right were wasted." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon