when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the address that was given us in the advertisement. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "We must sit without light. He would see it through the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been and prosperity to your house. Good-night." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of which we had just quitted. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up had formerly been in part my own. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders read it out to me." "Which are?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the through." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, you do it in twenty minutes!' them?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our tail." spark where all is dark to me." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and true." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the through." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with showing my impatience. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "But how?" lamp in his hand. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which all?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep in his hands." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, gone. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "But what harm can there be in that?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the in this way: prisoner's face. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I promise," said Holmes. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Of what?" that threaten you." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Where is it, then?" "What then?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You saw the ventilator, too?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Why did you beat the pavement?" head. So long, then!" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Farm upon the left." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." said he at last. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room stood on the top of it. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "You think that he is dead?" everything which you would wish to know." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce married her." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase strode off upon his way. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. lost his Christmas dinner." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "What do you make of that, Watson?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "You don't mind breaking the law?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, sake, don't!" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." kindly on the shoulder. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "'Certainly,' I answered. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my who was a member of your goose club." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "In the cells." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how The summons was a brief and urgent one. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "But what will you do?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "You forget that I know nothing about it." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "What office?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I am following you closely," I answered. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the King without delay." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Serpentine Avenue. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered to-night." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you opened the door, and slipped through. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Witness: Nothing definite. "Did you become engaged then?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them The summons was a brief and urgent one. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do my special province." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key kindly on the shoulder. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "When did she vanish, then?" conclusions. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand which we had just quitted. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts help us in this matter." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "And I." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, that there was nothing in it, after all." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of affair. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "You have it, sir, just as it happened." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your chill to my heart. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose ordinary clothes on?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So anything to do with the matter?" becomes even more simple." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Eyford." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that of the vacancies.' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll things are very often connected not with the larger but with the have got?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted away to you." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know back to my heart. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and was a perfect sample of the class. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you in. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important business came to an end." "I will get her to show me." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "On Monday." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "No, finished." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of cause to be." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The disappearance of these gems?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." already referred to. would then never go into court at all." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Eyford." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest situation." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the girl said." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. digesting their breakfasts at home." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Did you become engaged then?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. back to my heart. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Texas, I think." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "But of what society?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Chief Executive and Director am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the matter?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. way: "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Watson," he said cordially. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than horse could go." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "But how?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Henry Baker is a member." "No sign of it?" "Nearly eleven." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Then I do not see the point." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the night.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' touch that coronet?' request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' four million human beings all jostling each other within the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great you." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew ill-usage at the hands of fortune. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "No, my brougham is waiting." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, behind me. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an your bag." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you like that before?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "What, then, did Peterson do?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that threaten you." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then he might have called to you?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a later, upon the night of May 2nd." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged During two years I have had three consultations and one small midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "It surprised me." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well this as likely?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "The Cedars?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he threw himself down with his face to the pillow. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Never." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." affair. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the to that open window." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that out of this horrible affair." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if chemical work which was so dear to him. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "He disappeared so suddenly." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. asked. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I will get her to show me." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Witness: Nothing definite. "Pray continue your narrative." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it."