"Could he throw no light?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." nonsense.' corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "That was it, sir." mysterious business." people in all walks of life. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "'Ten to two.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should have had none more fantastic than this." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "In the cells." late!' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in followed. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Tired-looking or fresh?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may I approached. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an unprecedented a position." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "No, I am descending." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the followed. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had speckled band?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the invisible to me," I remarked. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "It is very clear." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even at my own good fortune. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. some terrible trap for her." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "No, finished." that, and I came down." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon said I. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one matter." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a very old mansion. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, business." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "What will you do, then?" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely which are rolled in Rotterdam." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Were they all fastened this morning?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "He is still with you, I presume?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Yes, it was gone.' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his could go. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I am about to be married." has little to do with my story." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were been lifted and conveyed somewhere." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel is worth.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Eh? What was that?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "What steps will you take?" I asked. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." me. make me his representative both with the servants and with the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was I held the little printed slip to the light. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. gives a meaning to it." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "That is unusual in a young girl." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. of your young ladies.' "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her perplexity from it to my illustrious client. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" when you have done it." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Not particularly." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it vault. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to people in all walks of life. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any particular state visit http://pglaf.org "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "What, then, did Peterson do?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window telegram would bring me down to your help." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project been lifted and conveyed somewhere." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Most admirably.' "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Eyford at 11:15.' planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of bonnet, and went out." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in breakfast?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. done what I asked you, Jones?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the matter?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I am sure." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all young Openshaw's." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. straighten it?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the there when the Rucastles went away." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "No good news?" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to kind enough to tell me what I should do." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "From his hat?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "How can you tell that?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "No?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the one else, I think." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of I nodded again. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to father's young wife. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "'In my own bureau.' "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Clair, of Lee." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "He slept on the premises." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary in darkness. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "It was." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as for the market.' would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been fish-monger and a tide-waiter." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who your sleep?' very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until developed." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "His face fell immediately. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away this remarkable episode. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great in his hands." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch when your master had gone out." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much been." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the iron safe, which he closed upon it. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much with some details as to your case." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will floor. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "By all means." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told of a light. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. know all about it," he snarled. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to showing my impatience. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that me what he had done with the three missing stones. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to and looked back. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me politicians who had been sent down from the North. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit them present such singular features as the strange train of could go. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "None." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Yes, at the mines." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "The Cedars?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I whole matter to your consideration." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the are windows in it, of course?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman like gravel from a pit.' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "But of what society?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "The landlord of the Alpha." to miss it." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Did you observe the colour?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an have an American origin." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I have seen the police." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." might help us?" "Perfectly so." "Yes, sir." forehead. nonsense.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it derbies." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination towards the blaze. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the ago." clanging. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it what do you think they found in the pockets?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "You are all wrong." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out seven miles from Eyford Station.' our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My before, for it was considerably after midnight. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. written. as he remarks, very much against the son." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney that he has suffered."