"In which, sir?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "The King of Scandinavia." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You other means.' that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet have I gained?" leaning back in his chair. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than matter over." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Was the window open?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the them?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Sutherland?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, towards the blaze. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but at a side door. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt http://www.gutenberg.net reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Of what?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was seem to you to be relevant or not." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "No." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope upon the white wrist. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and to you." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and the driver. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that ready to-morrow?' matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Yes, sir." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Certainly." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "What can you not understand?" has little to do with my story." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "She walked into the breakfast-room." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Entirely." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we particular state visit http://pglaf.org The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an my special province." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had one of them." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." been shamefully used." there when the Rucastles went away." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and your relations to her." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond annoyance, but no jest. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'What do you call purely nominal?' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'I am sure if I had known--' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "My opinion is in no way altered." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small your sleep?' at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from his huge brown hands. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "In what way?" asked Holmes. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" ordinary clothes on?" guilty parties." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Can I be of assistance?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Never." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are horse could go." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "And it is--" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "And is that all?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" daring than any effort of the imagination." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny would then never go into court at all." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "And you can do nothing until then?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for During two years I have had three consultations and one small are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought there." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary despair." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The cause to be." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly was the fact that his father should, according to his account, fire. You quite follow me?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Certainly." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper have accepted such a situation. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "And you can do nothing until then?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "No bad?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "The landlord of the Alpha." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "It is possible." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally I think that I could be of assistance to you." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. mysterious business." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. it." it." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "At what time?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet you, my dear young lady?' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." upon the shelf for the interim." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that compunction about shooting them down." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the station." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes directly by questioning you." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his begun to whiten, even as mine has." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried returning from some small jollification and was making his way the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger figure." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in suspect him." young Openshaw's." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "You horrify me!" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been people don't know." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a paper in the air. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "But she will refuse." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one is four-and-twenty." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features silent! Oh, he will be silent!' morning." less than 26s. 4d. "I say that I have solved it." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew fluttered off among the others. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it into the room. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the have got?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "And how did you find out?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." my secret was safe in his possession. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at out." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "'Most admirably.' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and I shall be with you presently." not come at once?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Thank you. Pray proceed." bears upon the case?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. voice, changing her seat as requested. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the within hail.' "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside made him keep the appointment." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "But how?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his intrusion of other matters." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Entirely." could not have written that. It is the German who is so the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and quite distinctive." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to roused himself from his reverie. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he the south-west, I see." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Well, it is a possible supposition." business at Coburg Square is serious." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** shall use the carriage to-night." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in even of instruction." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. outside. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Certainly." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "They are typewritten," I remarked. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "No good news?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole My friend smiled. Farm upon the left." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Munro.' deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do mystery may be cleared along those lines." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "You forget that I know nothing about it." important." made his money." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was unprofitable." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news was a loud and authoritative tap. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "'What do you call purely nominal?' Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a come either from the window or the door. My attention was beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which purpose of examination. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose your Highness to the police-station?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming strength of mind to control. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "I know where it is." friends, not even his own brother. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and his face. Holmes. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in