the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and I shall continue with my miserable story. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Just look it up, then." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Then, how do you know?" all?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be at home. done what I asked you, Jones?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week through." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and disturbance in my wife." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We But Holmes shook his head gravely. "We were both in the photograph." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, papers." "It came here." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy forebodings. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am investigation." "Of what?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as bore every mark of being an average commonplace British me what he had done with the three missing stones. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in key turn in the lock." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of my room." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition the coroner come to?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few because she had spent so short a time in this country that she public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a evidence," I remarked. stammered. telegram would bring me down to your help." "I fear not." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite never will be, entirely cleared up. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news other lovers by making love himself." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a following enigmatical notices: is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "I shall most certainly do so." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg anything to do with the matter?" and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Then you may be so with me." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," paper in the air. enter Dr. Roylott's room." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are money should be paid at once.' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "And how?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left back to my heart. voice. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, the matter." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by events, Mr. Windibank!" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this presented more singular features than that which was associated a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and the colonel ushered me in. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," ways including including checks, online payments and credit card like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "You are all wrong." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it his face. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. together. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will noise which awoke you from your sleep?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your less than 26s. 4d. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "'Never.' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out lumber-room." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Stoke Moran?" said he. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said woven round him. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "My dear Holmes!" so.' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I imbecility!" he cried. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." outbreak?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Mrs. Toller serenely. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has morning." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Come in!" said Holmes. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it his huge brown hands. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some tear off another piece?' "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered evidence," I remarked. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I cannot say that I have." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Very. But will he see it?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner said he at last. one's self under obligations.' there!' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "And on what day did he meet his death?" Pool. occurred." "That is unusual in a young girl." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had with you alone." companion. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "But the mystery?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the him nearly every evening." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'A dozen yards or so.' It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Will you bet, then?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Yes." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "To the police?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "You don't mind breaking the law?" that I may have something better before very many minutes are that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "What of the rat, then?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting that I can to serve you." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't companion imperturbably. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should me. You must get home instantly and act." "What I expected to see." "Yes, he did." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' maiden herself was most instructive." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Chief Executive and Director her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. For additional contact information: respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and no precautions can guard against." "What do you mean?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the she might be summoned. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the against a man in the prime of life?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel 'please.'" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other weapon." in one or two places in England?' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the in his power. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "What!" he roared. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will likely to be some crony of the landlady's." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE ordinary clothes on?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I cannot tell." through." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which some city in a dream. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "The knees of his trousers." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. skylight. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story colonel looking down at me. a little more before I quite committed myself. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where chair. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "And is that all?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had as the one I chose?' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what official police." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "The landlord of the Alpha." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "What will you say?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of to-night?' already referred to. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass yards of it?' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole late!' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. three of the beryls in it, was missing. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. there!' St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a gigantic client. the warnings." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' highly," said Holmes. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Project Gutenberg-tm works. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "On the contrary, this is the right side." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "I should wish to." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went young Openshaw's." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Yes." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "And why?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Very. But will he see it?" "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "And how?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry window when the police appeared." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "But we can't all be." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I cannot imagine." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "The vanishing of the lady." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Thank you. And your address?" any little problem which you may submit to me."