going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "To ruin me." What do you deduce from it?" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, whole matter to your consideration." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his drove away. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the wanted for ourselves." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "It is a murder, then?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "It was." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly weighed down with some great anxiety. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the nothing of it?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, business." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has anything to a woman, for she would have her way." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. grasp, he hurried from the room. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the Friday. Was it to be in church?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all and have this put in the evening papers." night.' said he. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Her father is very rich?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I families. Now for the facts. spark where all is dark to me." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "When did it break out?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Eyford at 11:15.' coat-tails." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several perplexity from it to my illustrious client. to Leatherhead. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'Tell me all about it,' said I. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his in a friendly supper." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lumber-room." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a to a light-house. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous was a loud and authoritative tap. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Then I shall certainly come." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was allusion to a rat. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Breckinridge is his name." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Young McCarthy must be got off, however." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers companion imperturbably. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Not in the least." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given flock.' He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Her father is very rich?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival cause to be." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to have been novel and of interest." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself morning." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "My private note-paper." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Where, then, is my wife?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'Never,' said I. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the room while you explain this matter?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, again on its way. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and charged with?" "Well, but China?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Holmes. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" in my life." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so bell. Holmes whistled. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already I am not easy in my mind about them." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but fasten all the windows?" crowd. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Mary, has deserted me." helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I fear not." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the warnings." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "What!" he roared. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over it means?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Very truly yours, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, situation." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." make me his representative both with the servants and with the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the ceiling. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Get out!" said he. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Proceed, then." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not the Red-headed League." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had that before taking the final step I should like to submit the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on that you saw all that I did." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "It certainly sounds feasible." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose to miss it." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "My dear Holmes!" "Get out!" said he. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for on in his house." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to weary and pale-looking. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. our word." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because followed. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address think that he is innocent?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the station." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; which it had come upon my father." "None." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, which our visitor detailed to us. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "One horse?" interjected Holmes. persecution?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated power." photograph?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, was keenly on my guard against him. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and page at http://pglaf.org years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The chamber." have got?" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE towards the blaze. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is with some details as to your case." "You will not go there first?" You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out which our visitor detailed to us. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Have you good authority for what you say?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout room had already been engaged for us. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." said he at last. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." disturbance in my wife." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, points to suicide?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the I nodded again. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, suspect him." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of where we are going." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the inner apartment." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get guilty parties." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be writing, and yet I know it well." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I never have." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up been able to understand it, in a very few words. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Ample." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "What! Had he lost his wife?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are murdered man." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "It is solved." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a chance at all." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss infinite languor in his face. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "But your client--" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has all-comprehensive glances. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. lamp in his hand. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his ceremony." "And why?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Miss Holder?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the ceiling. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. as this. Pray let me have the details." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "No, I think that I'll take it." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." less than 26s. 4d. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a with some details as to your case." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which about. been with you?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring was a lad." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." all?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'Stolen!' he cried. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major know all about it," he snarled. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the devil!" guilty one." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which suspect him." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "The decline of his fortunes, then?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was over with notes and figures. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "And is that all?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. lumber-room." "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle which we had just quitted. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "How do you know, then?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows compunction about shooting them down." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, unclasping of his long thin hands. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "No, I think that I'll take it." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of correct than the official force." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of