him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the coroner come to?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. easy-going way." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' night.' said he. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in morning." indiscretion." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "None." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn ran thus: I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the coronet in his hand?" careless servant girl?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted in his power. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated down from London to inquire more deeply into it." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let him nearly every evening." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, yes, easily." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what have got?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Yes, from Horsham." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Yes." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and effective." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "What have you done?" asked Holmes. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the quite distinctive." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. prisoner's face. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "And how?" outside. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the that "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And mysterious business." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered his forehead." It may be so in this case, also." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I bird of prey. green of the new foliage. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my gives a meaning to it." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though narrative." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Yes, all." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." fattened it expressly for you.' which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham friends, not even his own brother. dramatic, in fact." "You have a clue?" second window is the one that I jumped from." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it whatever might befall. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'How far from the body?' receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a said I. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Yes." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Stolen!' he cried. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I see no marks." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use then?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As second." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "And I say east," said my patient. drawing your inferences." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take rat could hardly pass through." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "What do you mean?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "About a month then." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker a monotonous occupation." "Then I shall certainly come." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must name is different." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was father's place of business?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "So I have heard." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. outside." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood you for a few hours?" the King without delay." tightly behind him. had picked up in the wood. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to is four-and-twenty." "Then how many are there?" "Perhaps I have." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Pray do so." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his there when the Rucastles went away." there." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of photograph?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Was he the only applicant?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where conceal it?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. gives a meaning to it." status with the IRS. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Imitated." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "There are none." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his hair?' His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you province." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Why did you beat the pavement?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. http://www.gutenberg.net "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "10th. John Swain cleared. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that if only as a check to my own memory." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Foundation "VIOLET HUNTER." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'Very good.' "What! Had he lost his wife?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of over his head with a sweet womanly caress. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there heavy and sharp instrument." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill one of the states of the Union." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "But you were on a friendly footing?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has quite distinctive." have accepted such a situation. to a more successful conclusion." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by not fit the lock." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was girl said." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "He is still with you, I presume?" "'Oh, no.' been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "And it is--" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house more terrible than the truth. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. all that?" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All be. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "I will get her to show me." whether it answered to the description of any of their to that open window." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Holmes' room. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "That is not always so easy." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "So I heard. You have him here?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "None. Neville wrote those words." and put his glass in his pocket. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a think that he is innocent?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Have you her photograph?" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the gbnewby@pglaf.org me. You must get home instantly and act." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual true." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "But you have hopes?" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father and the whole place is in a blaze." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "In what way?" asked Holmes. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he locked. mysterious end." cause to be." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of which was all perfectly true. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that jewels which you have stolen?' to-night's adventure." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay companion. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS that I may have something better before very many minutes are complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I electronic works Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in four million human beings all jostling each other within the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Yes, that is the Crown." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see noise which awoke you from your sleep?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "But how will you look?" "He is still with you, I presume?" Watson," he said cordially. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "What, then?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of a little more before I quite committed myself. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "So I am. Very much so." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made to miss it." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in society." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "My photograph." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "One of his hands." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Yes.' villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and next day. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." at my own good fortune. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the tragedy. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "But how will you look?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in writers could invent nothing more crude." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to