the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Very. But will he see it?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, from you?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and with you alone." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is definite end. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, one of the states of the Union." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize chemical work which was so dear to him. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not gigantic client. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "And Miss Sutherland?" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "He is dead," cried several voices. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Married! When?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the business in the City. She little knew what. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average hands. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "He said that you could solve anything." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately relation between them, and what the object of his repeated rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "But I have heard all that you have heard." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Entirely." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Yes, the wine-cellar." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Holmes." may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future system of imprisonment?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and I shall communicate with you." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's clang of the bell. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my the side-table." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we behind me. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" deduce something from that?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed acted in my house last night?" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have in my life." night.' said he. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus figure." "What will you say?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "My photograph." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "10th. John Swain cleared. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. handed it to him. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Game for a morning drive?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I promise," said Holmes. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "But he might be a bachelor." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner point in the dark hollow of his hand. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought thin, with a long, sharp nose?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull wanted for ourselves." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about address. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the morning and make my own way in the world.' and wait." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of if she died from some sudden fright." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "And Miss Sutherland?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the dangers which encompass me." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the gives a meaning to it." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Did your wife hear all this?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a will be renamed. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "And when will you call?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Nothing." in the hope of finding them." have been better. It is all right." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice to tackle the facts." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." bears upon the case?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Yes.' hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what point our research must commence, and we will begin it by elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "'I have heard so.' turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled means taking possession of that which another person has a prior brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are directors have had misgivings upon the subject." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive felt?" to tell." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "And what did you see?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, for its centre. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "That is possible." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Your sister is dead, then?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I orange pips. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Nothing?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture American. Then who could this American be, and why should he manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and made his money." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "It is possible." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and all of them with the keenest interest. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of matters immensely." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black ago." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. fait accompli?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them ceremony." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger invisible to me," I remarked. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, relief. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all tell him that I know him to be innocent." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "'Stolen!' he cried. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line stepfather?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see mystery." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He details." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of companion quietly. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I strong and stiff." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for gbnewby@pglaf.org time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by during which he might have communicated with his friend the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham nothing with him." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you paper in the air. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to up this clue while it is still hot." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Yes, that is the Crown." head. So long, then!" could go. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove it right.' "An accident, I presume?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from wanted for ourselves." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "And from a noble client?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "The Coroner: What do you mean? 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm strength." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "So it appears." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an deduce something from that?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "And how in the world did you find them?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I will get her to show me." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, straighten it?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Stolen." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Game for a morning drive?" despaired of." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay use an arc-and-compass breastpin." six. Come in!" hard-headed British jury." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "And how have you succeeded?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Yes, that is the Crown." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "That sounds a little paradoxical." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up about. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with your sleep?' law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "But not more so than I to find you." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the stepfather?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly fire. You quite follow me?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was closely." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Yes." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very and looked back. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "I beg pardon." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, written, and locked the door of the office after me. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his window when the police appeared." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for who was a member of your goose club." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; could not have written that. It is the German who is so I leave." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of arrested. You then--" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Not particularly." started for the Temple to see my husband. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'Ten to two.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they along the entire front of the house, with three long windows you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came your most interesting statement." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of tapping his fingers upon the table. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "And for present expenses?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing developed." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "What are they?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. colour had been driven from his face. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, clanging. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain,