that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I am still in the dark." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Nearly eleven." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. child?' friend's singular character. during that time.' made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder generous with you in money matters.' information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are voice. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive you." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "One of the highest in England." business in the City. She little knew what. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' photograph?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I burst into a hearty fit of laughter. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set is acting for the best. "But what harm can there be in that?" thirty. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "He slept on the premises." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "I see no marks." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "And now?" I asked. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an their singular warning or token before them when starting upon national property. I was determined that the law should have its ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What then?" unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "The vanishing of the lady." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Serpentine Avenue. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only you." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs to some other building. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Really! You surprise me." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I ways including including checks, online payments and credit card sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "That is unusual in a young girl." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon sound at heart." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the as yours." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And how did you verify them?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, forecastle of an emigrant ship. colour had been driven from his face. 1.E.9. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "You don't mind breaking the law?" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made may never be exposed to such a temptation." and inquire as to the address." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without despaired of." purpose of examination. feature." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "One of his hands." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which interested in these little problems, and since you are good pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of your Highness to the police-station?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Ten to two.' "I assure you that I am in your hands." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "I am to be neutral?" awaited us upon the table. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was which should have the effect of calling the attention of the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in name is different." bears upon the case?" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "One of the highest in England." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there appeared upon the scene." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Proceed, then." "My private note-paper." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the window, rose as we entered. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting wanted for ourselves." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father spare." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. do." the date of his supposed suicide." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father into the bag, and made for the door. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, digesting their breakfasts at home." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And had formerly been in part my own. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I my room." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Stolen." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am to surprise her." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," fled together." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from better grown goose." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "No, distinctly professional." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the arrested. You then--" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Nothing." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to there has been an enclosure here!" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "And how in the world did you find them?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I leave." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, a room. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him everything which you would wish to know." "No." respectable self." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the occurred." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "My dear Holmes!" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she front of me. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the go back?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or kind enough to tell me what I should do." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do woven round him. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "When did it break out?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, II. "But what harm can there be in that?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long narrative. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the waste of energy." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of of campaign. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them unclasping of his long thin hands. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "But who is he?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'Entirely.' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I should like to see him very much." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in happened." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You companion imperturbably. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards looking up at the numbers of the houses." bachelor.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not of the efforts of the United States government and of the better theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then joking. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." obstinate." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "He said that you could solve anything." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Surrey." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Absolutely none." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "He said that you could solve anything." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the London for the present?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this there when the Rucastles went away." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I cannot as yet see any connection." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no it means?" "None." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Then the page we have seen--" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of her also." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it dear old homesteads?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and bears upon the case?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" acquaintance?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him