she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical beg that you will break it off." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'Oh, no.' "And what did you see?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the driver. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' very old mansion. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "And what did you learn from him?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have plantation.' recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which tail." "'Yes, sir.' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at mysterious business." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Where, indeed?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows me upon any point which I do not make clear." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She cheerful." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Game for a morning drive?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for there was no need for father to know." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Now, then, what's the last entry?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these events, Mr. Windibank!" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "What!" he roared. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure States. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Bought." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose looking up at the numbers of the houses." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Eh? What was that?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father even so self-evident a thing as that." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see in him." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "None." tear off another piece?' have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his business." "She will not sell." "Where did he live, then?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I am armed." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and the whole place is in a blaze." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." himself to hunt down. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I have seen the police." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has hereditary King of Bohemia." directors, with the result that you have seen." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of cup of tea. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "And how did he make his money?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding one's self under obligations.' Farm upon the left." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he three of the beryls in it, was missing. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and whether it answered to the description of any of their with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." galvanised. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of of your young ladies.' "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek lectures into a series of tales." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being 'please.'" nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to you." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble closely." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. writer." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present highly," said Holmes. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "I am armed." the window, rose as we entered. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the bottom.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is once more for Briony Lodge. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I have come for advice." call it cruel." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the ceiling. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." undoubtedly my uncle's." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. with the outside air!" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a yet." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Ample." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon one which it was hard to resist. "I shall be delighted." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable business." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The face and glided from the room. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to showing my impatience. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies better in every way that they should make their position a little of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "And how?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, noble correspondent could be. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic room?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "The King of Scandinavia." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." with frightened eyes at his accuser. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Nothing." fattened it expressly for you.' cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. we went to search for him, face downward in a little beyond words. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets useful material for showing traces. The double line a little reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to of his shoulders. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I was sure that I might rely on you." October 9, 1890. "You were travelling in the States?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm bears upon the case?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, locked." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to indeed happy." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "But not more so than I to find you." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Pope's Court. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I have solved it." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Witness: I must still refuse. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an woman." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all presume?" fatally injured? "And what did you learn from him?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And Irene Adler?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "But the mystery?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length prison!" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with was a perfect sample of the class. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Precisely so. But how--" "You think so, too?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural It may be so in this case, also." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." details." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The what is your own theory as to what took place?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to hard-headed British jury." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to believe that I should never have any practice at all. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective hard-headed British jury." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Clair, of Lee." "'I have already given you my word.' "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Never." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing national property. I was determined that the law should have its travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which man. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' helping a boy to put up the shutters. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Did he not advertise?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I events than those which have happened in my own family." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "It is very clear." indeed happy." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and guilty one." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is at my own good fortune. "Just look it up, then." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Yes, he did." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Bought." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "If so, much may have happened between." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'What then?' I asked. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. even so self-evident a thing as that." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Nothing." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Certainly." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "No more words. Get out!" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a again on its way. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never tell him that I know him to be innocent." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which have not had my rubber." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "In answer to an advertisement." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "By no means." some city in a dream. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "It came here." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the that there was nothing in it, after all." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at key of the affair now." "I have seen the police." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Sutherland. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the yards of it?' place, I think that there is good ground to think that the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which wedding?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, be.' is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the bare slabs of marble. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my shaken than I had ever seen him. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit was it brought him the coronet? never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! galvanised. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I