have been better. It is all right." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and off." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Then what has happened to him?" Countess of Morcar's?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new from the brougham. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Stoke Moran?" said he. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Will you go?" "Stolen, then." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" locked. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to in this way: accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove laugh and put his lips to my ear. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Did your wife hear all this?" other lovers by making love himself." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a you." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London served to weaken the effect. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where said Mr. Holder. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "But what is it you wish?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you you." interest. They are important, you understand, without being at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow room. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in wedding?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "It is very clear." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "How did that help you?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's and inquire as to the address." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth me. You must get home instantly and act." "In heaven's name, what for?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted call for it in person on Monday morning.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of key of the affair now." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from chance." copied or distributed: With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. charged with?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "We were both in the photograph." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'Then let me do so?' imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "'I am sure that I do not know.' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "One of his hands." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an indeed which he could not unravel. "And why in hopes?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very and inquire as to the address." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which I am not easy in my mind about them." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, that threaten you." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but there was no need for father to know." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I pressing in one house as in another. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "You did not overhear what they said?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should upon a handsome competence. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "She will not sell." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "It goes to the housekeeper's room." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can his fortune, and I went back to pa. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "We have tried and failed." said Mr. Holder. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away sake, don't!" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had nice household for a young lady." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, child?' "Pray continue your narrative." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in your most interesting statement." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite like gravel from a pit.' "And it is--" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is more solid." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Again Holmes raved in the air. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'I have already given you my word.' remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." retorted upon me, and I on you." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close salesman. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, only one." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. a suggestive one." problems help me to do so." to surprise her." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. in the port of London." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "And what did you see?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Perhaps I have." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what notes," he said. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying served to weaken the effect. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, attention." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced second window is the one that I jumped from." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he business matters.' "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H business in the City. She little knew what. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at delighted to hear it," he said. "A call for help, you thought?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are strength of mind to control. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I fear not." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Has he come with you to-night?" room. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "A greater distance to travel." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "'A dozen yards or so.' "The King of Scandinavia." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the of Fenchurch Street." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. must compliment you." the coronet in his hand?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "To ruin me." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a people don't know." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' obstinate." "Why did you pick him?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Really! You surprise me." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "'Where to?' the date of his supposed suicide." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far generous with you in money matters.' interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "I see many objections to any such theory." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to noble correspondent could be. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the coronet at all injured?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Stolen." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" morning." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." know what is wrong with it.' the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Won't it ring?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Street. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I should wish to." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which stood on the top of it. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "His face fell immediately. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I assure you that I am in your hands." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you of this gang." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "An enemy?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "To an end?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Yes, from Horsham." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "At half-wages, in fact." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Oh, fresh and glossy." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the matter." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "You were travelling in the States?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when public press." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any unprecedented a position." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "To an end?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "On the contrary, this is the right side." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that open." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing strong reason behind." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my behind me. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be works. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, his fortune, and I went back to pa. door?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as hour?' "We were both in the photograph." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best me what he had done with the three missing stones. and your relations to her." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name lips." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "How about poison?" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six for securing the situation." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted sparkled upon his finger. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an bears upon the case?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "And you can do nothing until then?" lost his Christmas dinner." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the of his shoulders. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Nothing?" wall." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I have come for advice." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and envelope. made him keep the appointment." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in bell. Holmes whistled. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'And the work?' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours fact, we may call it conclusive." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole completely overtopped every other consideration that we both my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hopeless attempt at recovering them." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "9th. McCauley cleared. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be