upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "No, finished." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' been deceived." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Holmes' room. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of point in the dark hollow of his hand. generous with you in money matters.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a call you and give you the chance." into the bag, and made for the door. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis which it had come upon my father." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "It is very kind of you." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "And that is--" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been really the only notable feature about the thing." "Will you bet, then?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Oh, yes, easily." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Yes, it would be as well." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. forbidden door. you give your casting vote to?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "What steps will you take?" I asked. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "And you thought he was pulled back?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Texas, I think." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, more solid." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked seen the man in the road." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." his face which made him a very different person to the round, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, any little problem which you may submit to me." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "At what time?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his own family. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a true." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, upon the sideboard." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the name is different." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "And you don't know his address?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "It looks newer than the other things?" open." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to congenial hunt. this man was intellectual?" sake, don't!" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little suddenly upon us." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself to affect your life." "The vanishing of the lady." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his written. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable which I could not give. He asked for Alice. own family. looking up at the numbers of the houses." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet pressing in one house as in another. "Texas, I think." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal enter into my head. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, drawing your inferences." you." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Then I do not see the point." "I think it very unlikely." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life present." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. ventilator." developed." "An accident, I presume?" headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when looking up at the numbers of the houses." "To an end?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Yes." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the imbecility!" he cried. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our society." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of remarked. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Certainly." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I should wish to." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand It may be so in this case, also." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Look there!" said he. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "One?" "Game for a morning drive?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the hour?' "Ha! you find it so?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her locked." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'Certainly not.' before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Dirty?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "So it appears." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never keep the flames under. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I cannot imagine." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "My last client of the sort was a king." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? footfalls from the street. "Yes, but only for you and me." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "But how could you guess what the motive was?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try foot. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "And why in hopes?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and looked back. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Yes, only one." "I should be immensely obliged to you." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no did not hear it also.' will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have was a lad." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'About the same.' "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of campaign. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Ample." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds married her." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "How can you tell that?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you case-book, which he consulted. "No. What a strange idea!" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. questioning and rather startled gaze. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter morning." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I was mad--insane." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He thirty. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger awkward doing business with an alias." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to that open window." "And what did you see?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a legal crime." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in charged with?" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There more terrible than the truth. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the inquest, and which are worth considering." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Stolen." amused." main points of my analysis." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook criminal. We have already had experience of such." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about tied." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Absolutely none." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and The King stared at him in amazement. on in his house." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "My Mary? Impossible!" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to take care of herself." "It is possible." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'What, the red-headed man?' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let to Leatherhead. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too opened the door, and slipped through. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the of." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no public press." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have reach." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low future lives." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Perfectly so." it with his own hands." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few strong reason behind." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "May I see it?" of the vacancies.' clanging. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could how narrow had been my escape. drawing your inferences." morning." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I assure you that I am in your hands." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be already referred to. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing time." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I do.' success. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees it? Did I buy the geese off you?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was already answered. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the miles off. for securing the situation." "This concluded the examination of the witness." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for