"None." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "And did you observe any change in her then?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." over with notes and figures. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an your room." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. just ask you whether you had heard it.' on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "None." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "How did he come?" "When did she vanish, then?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Will you bet, then?" danger is over." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an kindly on the shoulder. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Clair, of Lee." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." himself to hunt down. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, papers on the sundial.'" greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this money should be paid at once.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we signal between you and your father? the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would depend upon my doing so.' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic putting in the horse. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a deduce something from that?" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "I never have." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not your Highness to the police-station?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." your co-operation." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the awkward doing business with an alias." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the devil!" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "In San Francisco, a year ago." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from cost them two and thirty pounds." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." hardly wander." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 place of silver." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a fishes. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" written. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when minor matters until to-morrow." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Street. "Holmes, the busybody!" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "He said that you could solve anything." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a conversation I have gathered that they have been married about clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white highroad, where all traces were lost. the morning and make my own way in the world.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" promised to bring home. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I throat." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In fear." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the Assizes." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Sutherland. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I should like to see him very much." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined thirty. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent to tell." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a recover the gem." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door stalked out of the room. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a sofa. This way, please!" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the there in twenty minutes." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" this poor creature." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the roots. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and are, and they are waiting for us." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly address. "I cannot think." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in I. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say in. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young became a certainty. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of as the one I chose?' my former friend and companion. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than despaired of." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your chance at all." of your young ladies.' "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "What will you do, then?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'Yes, I promise.' depend upon your compliance." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused away to you." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, orange pips. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small case before our client came into the room." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" carried out of court." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "And what then?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very interests were the same as his." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Come in!" said he. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish charged with?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he signal between you and your father? so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I think that I had better go, Holmes." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "You were travelling in the States?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I think that I had better go, Holmes." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from upon the sideboard." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Yes." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which unkempt, staring out at me. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for face and glided from the room. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella said he. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be chambers. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody my friend's incisive reasoning. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a cigars in their mouths. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and father's young wife. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "No, but the enclosure is." you." yet." I leave." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Yes, sir." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these I am not easy in my mind about them." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or coroner's jury." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed affection." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have cigars in their mouths. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "What! Had he lost his wife?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up directly by questioning you." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until wanted for ourselves." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "One of the highest in England." away into the river." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Why that?' I asks. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'Certainly not. But why?' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a lumber-room." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" there has been an enclosure here!" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since success. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the thirty. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "What have you to say now?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" lumber-room." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it hurried by. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "What! a murderous attack?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "What will you say?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever records." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between which it had come upon my father." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though what do you think they found in the pockets?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before think, you have already met." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a remarked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been breakfast and whispered something to her husband. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his is worth.' we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the salesman. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. that threaten you." and laid it on the table. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, strong reason behind." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "My dear Holmes!" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "In heaven's name, what for?" "I will, Miss Turner." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been