"'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Doctor, of the paper and the date." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "But your client--" "What then?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in companion. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "One of the highest in England." new acquaintance to Baker Street. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Could he throw no light?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect opportunities to fix the problem. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small towards the blaze. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, have had none more fantastic than this." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and I shall be with you presently." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" go--none." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place conduct the inquiry." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Yes." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were horse could go." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You correct than the official force." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad province." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock II. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove fish-monger and a tide-waiter." License. You must require such a user to return or profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a death." success. skylight. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that happened." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and no precautions can guard against." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." clang of the bell. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'And the work?' "And sit in the dark?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's because she had spent so short a time in this country that she his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Henry Baker is a member." records." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in question. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Was the window open?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "But you would not advise me to refuse?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "'Very good.' put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on hair?' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Yes." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "But it has twice been burgled." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Yes, it was gone.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get heavily into it. "One?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Will you go?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my business." to affect your life." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California what I may call a really hard day's work." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; amused." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "She told me to ask you." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "But who is he?" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My lids now and glanced across at his visitor. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and down. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Doctor, of the paper and the date." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I know what is wrong with it.' time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, him." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he what I may call a really hard day's work." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See threw himself down with his face to the pillow. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it most important business. It is probable that he will be away all had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very she used." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Well, it is a possible supposition." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard becomes even more simple." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors at my own good fortune. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that were wasted." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, and have this put in the evening papers." IS Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. locked." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I never have." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have pictures, libraries, or plate. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." asked. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. strength." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I am armed." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." weapon." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "It came here." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "But who is he?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said you." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, fat-encircled eyes. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And you can do nothing until then?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied with the outside air!" business at Coburg Square is serious." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing rooms." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as conceal it?" strong and stiff." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford was it brought him the coronet? on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the strong reason behind." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of flock.' pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Where, then, is my wife?" was shining brightly. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective walking." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch place no limit on the sum I may draw." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open throat." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "I have solved it." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be of your young ladies.' the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded to you." "Precisely." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." said I. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "I will, Miss Turner." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." in. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Who by?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the in his hands." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." room?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, discontent upon his features. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I should be immensely obliged to you." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Street. Where does the thing come from?' chamber." empty. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the do you make of it all?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Holmes' face clouded over. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he heavily into it. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "The rest you will leave in our hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and to change my dress. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended which our visitor detailed to us. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get front of the hall door has given its name to the place. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from system of imprisonment?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." where we are going." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Pray do so." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his wife has ceased to love him." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Where did you address your letters, then?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these name is different." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Entirely." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They John Swain, of St. Augustine. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "'And what are they worth?' I asked. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." is four-and-twenty." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Then how many are there?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "What I expected to see." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as the coronet in his hand?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much get the tickets." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us