business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "On Monday." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Yes." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. goes." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it nonsense.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has stood on the top of it. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw enter Dr. Roylott's room." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should tapping his fingers upon the table. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. you came in." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, became a certainty. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "What steps will you take?" I asked. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I enough to aid us in our search." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it knowledge of the world." "You don't mind breaking the law?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Dr. Becher's." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders http://gutenberg.net/license). Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in tension within him. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain might help us?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his lids now and glanced across at his visitor. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the him to go away.' passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Was she in good spirits?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. crowd. do.' "And why?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook read over the extraordinary announcement. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you coat-tails." easy-going way." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once http://www.gutenberg.net the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." him." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom occupations.' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and bell. Holmes whistled. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Has he come with you to-night?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "And now?" I asked. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to who was a member of your goose club." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Your French gold?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. girl said." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, them?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching point in the dark hollow of his hand. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he allusion to a rat. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "You did not overhear what they said?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "You horrify me." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the digesting their breakfasts at home." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his forehead." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "I shall be delighted." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in companion imperturbably. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative place of silver." side. me where it went to?" Does that suggest anything?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be if only as a check to my own memory." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is bonnet, and went out." "But what will you do?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste this man was intellectual?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this with you alone." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "My Mary? Impossible!" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off to talk it over. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, The telegram which we eventually received came late one night the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "The Coroner: What do you mean? at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was yet." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when character. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his details should find their way into the papers. Inspector In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had weigh very heavily upon my conscience." was keenly on my guard against him. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' evidence," I remarked. other means.' that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had away to you." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "That is easily got." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, what I may call a really hard day's work." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I to-night?' crowd. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked writing, and yet I know it well." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I cannot tell." "Entirely." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Was the window open?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester fact, we may call it conclusive." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in relation between them, and what the object of his repeated to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all presume?" see me here to avoid scandal." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest fashion which was peculiar to him. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the best of training." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious the best of training." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? hopeless attempt at recovering them." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then must be when I saw the door open.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it not personally threatened." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to said he at last. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary retorted upon me, and I on you." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Awake, Watson?" he asked. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, one else, I think." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Witness: It was. his fortune, and I went back to pa. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the room while you explain this matter?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "He said that you could solve anything." "You are all wrong." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "I have a cab outside." in one or two places in England?' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Edgeware Road. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too quickly through a disagreeable task. must compliment you." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the beg that you will break it off." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" mystery." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Now, then, what's the last entry?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "A client, then?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Lee, in the county of Kent." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." name is different." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few weighed down with some great anxiety. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "That is easily got." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it lumber-room." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "I guessed as much." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the bed, and you in that chair." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one the so-precious time, but come!' battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a washing it down with a long draught of water. present." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." be. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some as yours." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "What is it?" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "'Certainly not.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." pictures, libraries, or plate. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime waste of energy." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the 1.F. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot easy-going way." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "I am armed." "Really! You surprise me." which it had come upon my father." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down tightly behind him. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Well, some hundreds of times." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable but preventing her from injuring another. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from both be extremely obliged.' "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by very morning of my second wedding." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental name is different." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, mystery." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Sutherland. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a second." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen certainly not very gracious." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my written. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my deduce something from that?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite front of me. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. third from London." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a himself to tell his story. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me