"Then I shall certainly come." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the child." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "'What do you call purely nominal?' "No sign of it?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Ah!" present." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To served to weaken the effect. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His have established a very serious case against the son of the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Not in the least." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Yes, the wine-cellar." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Nothing?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the floor. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "'What, the red-headed man?' his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his of Mr. Rucastle's." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that system of imprisonment?" letters?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Yesterday." it. beg that you will break it off." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'I have already given you my word.' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the what I may call a really hard day's work." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and neither fascinating nor artistic." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there weapon." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond your troubles." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be results." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." at home. passage and a tap at the door. these bleak autumnal evenings." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She introspective fashion. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel seven miles from Eyford Station.' retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "My dear Holmes!" "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Which are?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "An accident, I presume?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was gone. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned society." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London have I gained?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "What is it?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "No. His orders were to stay in the house." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a think that any burglar could have done. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed directly by questioning you." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for felt the room to be a little close.' reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I nothing with him." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from read over the extraordinary announcement. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted gigantic client. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind light and attacked it." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would of the efforts of the United States government and of the better old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood writer." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Mary, has deserted me." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Dr. Becher's." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six lids now and glanced across at his visitor. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair persecution?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Heh?' occupations.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the attention." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "But I am all in the dark." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Have you it here?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the once more for Briony Lodge. go back?" heavy and sharp instrument." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the one as in the other." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Absolutely none." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "And Irene Adler?" should be taken.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. to his chemical studies. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts gigantic client. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, like that before?" that, and I came down." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been to-morrow." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Then he might have called to you?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back During two years I have had three consultations and one small hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried might help us?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" attention." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "No, finished." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet have established a very serious case against the son of the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "And what did you see?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and and the colonel ushered me in. "But you can know nothing of this?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you annoyance, but no jest. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the affair. daring than any effort of the imagination." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "No, I am descending." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to upon the shelf for the interim." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone outsides of the windows. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will trying to your nerves." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and burst into a hearty fit of laughter. vault. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left You want to know what became of those geese?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "To ruin me." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. with you?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel which I could not give. He asked for Alice. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "And the cigar-holder?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "And what then?" "Is he quiet?" gone. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Yes, from Horsham." Arthur Conan Doyle a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." with her." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. upon the shelf for the interim." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight other means.' child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found this remarkable episode. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she man. I know him from the photograph." "My stepfather's business papers." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Dr. Gregory B. Newby matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious habit of advancing money.' weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side people don't know." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes' room. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the investigation." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in have been better. It is all right." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "But he might be a bachelor." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you shag which I had seen upon the previous night. death." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "In answer to an advertisement." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage keep the flames under. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his some water from a caraffe. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I beyond words. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Entirely." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall important." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save he. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel meanly of me." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Then I can wait in the next room." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Mary, has deserted me." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. stalked out of the room. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in noble correspondent could be. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they sentimental considerations in the background which would induce window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to recover the gem." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the gigantic client. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable them?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue there was no need for father to know." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his