expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of kindly on the shoulder. in a very precise fashion." bill, which interests me deeply." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his straighten it?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." a room. charged with?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Munro.' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in points in connection with it which never have been, and probably was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Sutherland. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply fasten all the windows?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were morning." Surrey." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is for and were ordered to this address. "Yes, the wine-cellar." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what some water from a caraffe. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the stable lane now." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Eh? What was that?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "By all means." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil weighed down with some great anxiety. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We floor. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at sound at heart." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I away to you." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they astonishment. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Here?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "By all means." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "What have you to say now?" "No." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. cost them two and thirty pounds." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, events than those which have happened in my own family." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark closely." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in power." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the business in the City. She little knew what. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Miss Holder?" "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to be.' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Absolutely none." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them I nodded again. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the tragedy. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. returned to France?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. tension within him. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker ways of our fellow-men." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending careless servant girl?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Why did you pick him?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Why, what do you mean?" when you have done it." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must families. Now for the facts. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I am all attention, madam." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, meant." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed returned to France?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property were wasted." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. allusion to a rat. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" maiden herself was most instructive." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. it." coroner's jury." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' hurried by. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "What do you mean?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "None. Neville wrote those words." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "My opinion is in no way altered." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation with you alone." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Leave Paddington by the 11:15." with frightened eyes at his accuser. notes," he said. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of point in the dark hollow of his hand. it." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I quick march!" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed which are rolled in Rotterdam." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the the stones. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he question you as to those details which seem to me to be most chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "I shall most certainly do so." bell. Holmes whistled. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my go from here to the Strand." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "On Monday." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Yesterday." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was was used.' hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Yes, but only for you and me." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "And the murderer?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Dirty?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Precisely." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended 11:15.' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "What, then?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the him to be an active member of the medical profession." business?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Watson," he said cordially. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do how narrow had been my escape. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "And how did you find out?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. acted in my house last night?" "'Quite sure, dad.' her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was some mystery and the punishment of some crime." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his me have 200 pounds?' that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an nonsense.' Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and relief. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Awake, Watson?" he asked. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Eh? What was that?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we goes." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Sutherland?" "Yes, sir." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, dead, shall be safe with us." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'Stolen!' he cried. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, something of him before." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend It may be so in this case, also." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the forbidden door. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the child." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Why serious?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Very. But will he see it?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at locked. cause to be." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm it with his own hands." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking nonsense.' Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper salesman. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Then, how do you know?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "And is that all?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "If I can be of use." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact have established a very serious case against the son of the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's quite distinctive." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'Most admirably.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the matter." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in lips." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some could gather together that I was able to avert another public stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from client, rising. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Witness: Nothing definite. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Yes." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a green of the new foliage. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "In answer to an advertisement." Farm upon the left." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own already been minutely examined." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, power." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "And what did you see?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." opened the door, and slipped through. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is your bag." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a standing smiling on the door-step. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. important." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the carriage. It was a chestnut." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and