Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, look dissatisfied." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his question," said Holmes, smiling. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner you in your example." answered with a sidelong glance. Doctor, of the paper and the date." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich sufficient punishment." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon you for a few hours?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "And now?" He raised his hand. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable security.' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning were new raised from a basin. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'Yes.' at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" companion. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend at once, for I have only half an hour." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Holmes rather sternly. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every other means.' It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I during the last few years, and there are many noble families to will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own experiences." heavy and sharp instrument." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I came to find a friend." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." his eyes and forehead. "My stepfather's business papers." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is business." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his appeal." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in arrested. You then--" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Why, it's a dummy," said he. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains that you wished to speak to me?' "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very directors have had misgivings upon the subject." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Yes, sir." pictures, libraries, or plate. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "In heaven's name, what for?" "That also I could fathom." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "An accident, I presume?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in he. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon time." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "How many? I don't know." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "The gentleman I describe." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Yes, there are nearly always some there." to a light-house. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes' thin, eager face. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. strength of mind to control. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and files of the old papers, following the future career of every have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' out." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, closely." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses stood on the top of it. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your must compliment you." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "What can it mean?" I gasped. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Where, then, is my wife?" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their to his chemical studies. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front crime." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Yes, they were peculiar boots." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Quite so. She has her freedom." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." the devil!" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback tell me that you intended to go into harness." place no limit on the sum I may draw." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Witness: Nothing definite. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "I should wish to." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out note?" he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Yes." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, in a very precise fashion." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the himself. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country results." ashen face. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while papers on the sundial.'" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." would then never go into court at all." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Ha! you find it so?" and a shock of very red hair. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father have had none more fantastic than this." "'What then?' I asked. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had it." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "I have a cab outside." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the at my own good fortune. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in not, dad?" she asked. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. himself in a perplexing position. your Highness to the police-station?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. light and attacked it." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that them?" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the until night should bring an explanation. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, excitement. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of only touch the interest." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I depend upon my doing so.' room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can been with you?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the other lovers by making love himself." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor telegram would bring me down to your help." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "On the contrary, this is the right side." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire compunction about shooting them down." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "You have the photograph?" "I am about to be married." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." over with notes and figures. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." go back?" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Literary Archive Foundation the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most villagers almost as much as their master. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot delirious. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the take the flies, but not before." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and effective." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. later, upon the night of May 2nd." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious you do it in twenty minutes!' takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, man. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Does that suggest anything?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a until night should bring an explanation. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a to have that photograph." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Where did he live, then?" any more." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Then, as to money?" written, and locked the door of the office after me. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you vanished into the darkness. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. chance." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, hurried away. "And what then?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Ah!" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She chamber." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Stolen." had picked up in the wood. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "It is possible." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "He slept on the premises." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows will take you up to see the machine.' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Lestrade of Scotland Yard." everything which you would wish to know." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I see many objections to any such theory." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be of the way of danger. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, room?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and a shock of very red hair. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were empty. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it arms and began to sob in a high treble key. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. becomes even more simple." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "My stepfather's business papers." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Certainly." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Yes, but only for you and me." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could I. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which brain must have something in it." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "'You cannot say what it was?' "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment been shamefully used." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before October 9, 1890. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much your equipment. "When did it break out?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Sutherland?" calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed