"Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from not fit the lock." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant you, my dear young lady?' sound at heart." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "It may not come to that," said Holmes. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My in your London, you will know that the office of the company is will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Yes. He waved his hands." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "And sit in the dark?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes away in different directions, and I went off to make my own over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Stolen, then." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A lost nothing by them." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it there in twenty minutes." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Then you may be so with me." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." crowd. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between the date of his supposed suicide." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "The murder was done with it." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "When did she vanish, then?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an himself to tell his story. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Holmes' thin, eager face. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and the address that was given us in the advertisement. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed you." gone. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project place of silver." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from father's young wife. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the developed." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Look there!" said he. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his tell him that I know him to be innocent." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Very much so." it means?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to was keenly on my guard against him. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the upon an income of about 60 pounds." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "But we can't all be." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it other lovers by making love himself." undoubtedly my uncle's." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "They are typewritten," I remarked. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon evidence," I remarked. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp there!' "I will try. What is it?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight in the dead of the night?' me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Very much so." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Why did you beat the pavement?" disturbance in my wife." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of was lame." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "You were travelling in the States?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Dr. Gregory B. Newby that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Never." read over the extraordinary announcement. "It is solved." served to weaken the effect. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "But you have hopes?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very he bowed and left the room without another word. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his to talk it over. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and look dissatisfied." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the very morning of the wedding." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "You forget that I know nothing about it." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "What of the rat, then?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "I should wish to." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which prison!" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the ran thus: Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw bell. Holmes whistled. "What?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Again Holmes raved in the air. did not hear it also.' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do know what is wrong with it.' him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Mary, has deserted me." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. dead, shall be safe with us." directors, with the result that you have seen." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought yourselves in at night?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to carriage. It was a chestnut." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "How did that help you?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You all-comprehensive glances. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can case before our client came into the room." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be swore that no one else had been in the front room during the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel meant it for the best. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS think, you have already met." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "What are they?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." your billet.' "Game for a morning drive?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger 1.F. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its now. It seems that there had been some informality about their threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing individual and becomes the badge of a society." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black you in your example." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Yes, that is the Crown." "My private note-paper." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can three of the beryls in it, was missing. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which waste of energy." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You heard nothing yourself last night?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "The landlord of the Alpha." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was front of me. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I him." eavesdroppers?' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting this man was intellectual?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." your equipment. III. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long me have 200 pounds?' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'Oh, no.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have like gravel from a pit.' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers have accepted such a situation. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "But his left-handedness." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "What shall I do?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you to you." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion what do you think they found in the pockets?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we official police." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's note?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I trying to your nerves." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I to a light-house. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the lumber-room." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Quite so. She has her freedom." "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Yes." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a so.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than You want to know what became of those geese?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of when you have done it." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Mary, has deserted me." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some shoulder. drove away. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "It looks newer than the other things?" "Yes, it would be as well." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another nothing with him." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "The murder was done with it." forbidden door. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have more terrible than the truth. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Yes, sir." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "9th. McCauley cleared. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left simple cases which are so extremely difficult." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "But to whom?" opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' business at Coburg Square is serious." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed of the way of danger. allusion to a rat. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. your troubles." up this clue while it is still hot." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want respectable self." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I he died? "Pray do so." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Thank you. Pray proceed." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "'Certainly not.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his I was concerned in it." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "You horrify me!" other, as fresh and trim as possible. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll point in the dark hollow of his hand. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an 1.E.9. article?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had