stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation had formerly been in part my own. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do was a lad." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was direction." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you away to you." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was vanished into the darkness. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Who was the criminal, then?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Then the page we have seen--" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "But it has twice been burgled." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "He said that you could solve anything." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." you do it in twenty minutes!' I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers help us in this matter." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and must be when I saw the door open.' bird I ate is country bred." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. distinguish the words: case before our client came into the room." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Which are?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "The doctor?" a good hundred miles off by now." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several you give your casting vote to?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case them?" "Was she in good spirits?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any tassel actually lying upon the pillow. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." My friend smiled. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from records." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. foresight and the moral retrogression?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who this as likely?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us words came to my lips. forebodings. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I child?' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came bled considerably." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to take care of herself." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that he has suffered." "How do you know, then?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "It must be recovered." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I answered that I had not. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper was once confined in the cab my mission was practically to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another his forehead." "Then the page we have seen--" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair dates and names. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure yourselves in at night?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she that, and I came down." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It is solved." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take she used." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. forbidden door. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and chambers. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "To an English lawyer named Norton." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about becomes even more simple." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "And you thought he was pulled back?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and arms and began to sob in a high treble key. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "At what time?" promised to bring home. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I other, as fresh and trim as possible. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our there." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note which it had come upon my father." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and files of the old papers, following the future career of every made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as as he remarks, very much against the son." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "The Coroner: What do you mean? order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the one as in the other." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the seen the man in the road." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "That is easily got." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "By no means." "But what is it you wish?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a presume?" "Yes, at the mines." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "I cannot imagine." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but new acquaintance to Baker Street. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Whose house is it?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a touch that coronet?' which we had just quitted. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the against a man in the prime of life?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "But who is he?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you read it out to me." prepare for the new role I have to play." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man wedding?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, crackling voice. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I will, Miss Turner." indiscretion." it. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook is now desirous of getting those letters back." more terrible than the truth. Sutherland?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to business?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some to a light-house. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear coat-tails." matters immensely." "I would give my fortune to have them back." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Tired-looking or fresh?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with whole matter to your consideration." true." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "What can you not understand?" Again Holmes raved in the air. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "We must sit without light. He would see it through the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "You were travelling in the States?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "No, thank goodness, she did not." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on during that time.' showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. our word." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to You want to know what became of those geese?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. forebodings. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was sentimental considerations in the background which would induce uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt yards of it?' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. an introduction to him?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "'Where to?' as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Never." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "A confidential servant?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy papers on the sundial.'" "Certainly." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, tied." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From do you make of it all?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a like gravel from a pit.' "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of of Fenchurch Street." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources his fortune, and I went back to pa. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and your sleep?' examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. said Mr. Holder. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" peculiar to him. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose writer." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "But how?" the bed, and you in that chair." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. lamp. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Could he throw no light?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "One of his hands." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich guilty one." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "That is unusual in a young girl." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." What do you deduce from it?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "And why?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then prisoner's face. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, little adventures." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them where we are going." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Have you good authority for what you say?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means to where he stood hid behind the curtain. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they presented more singular features than that which was associated See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who like gravel from a pit.' in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "We must sit without light. He would see it through the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "I think that it is very probable." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the in darkness. "Yes." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with new duties?' bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. of them has the shutters up.' without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face one of them." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "What will you do, then?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some golden eyeglasses. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the or other trace. But how on earth--" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. chambers. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was miles off. tightly behind him. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Perfectly so." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Henry Baker is a member." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "But his lameness?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Why did you pick him?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. there is a decided draught." never came back." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at a room. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can cigar and let me expound." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to affect your life." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, in the port of London." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here