empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to system of imprisonment?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "And your father? Did you tell him?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I promise," said Holmes. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his McCarthy." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "And Irene Adler?" happened." rat could hardly pass through." little adventures." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "We must have a cab." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Munro.' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting were unconscious?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" take the flies, but not before." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the station." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back visitors." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: trying to your nerves." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "This photograph!" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the entirely lost his self-respect." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'Stolen!' he cried. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point served to weaken the effect. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the shoulder. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is to you." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came his face which made him a very different person to the round, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned gone before you can get him to hospital." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, individual and becomes the badge of a society." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I approached. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I will, Miss Turner." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a even of instruction." Chief Executive and Director and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and a monotonous occupation." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a seven miles from Eyford Station.' "It surprised me." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell if I call to-morrow?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to take care of herself." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Murdered?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a at home. nights." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without that he has suffered." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when chambers. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Yes, I have one waiting." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and effective." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to outside." wedding?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I cannot imagine." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm sooner or later she must fall a victim. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "And on what day did he meet his death?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "You think so, too?" nice household for a young lady." of." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those with you?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Heh?' "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When annoyance, but no jest. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the populous neighbourhood." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the late!' few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Bought." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "So I heard. You have him here?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to writers could invent nothing more crude." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "You are all wrong." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Where, then, is my wife?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have be. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough second window is the one that I jumped from." "I will get her to show me." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Pool. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining flock.' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Certainly." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have gone before you can get him to hospital." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened soul! here is her carriage at the door." done what I asked you, Jones?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Does that suggest anything?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. will he say when he returns?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." your Highness to the police-station?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "'Then let me do so?' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "So I have heard." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed been able to understand it, in a very few words. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which weary and pale-looking. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that were new raised from a basin. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote good-night and bustled off upon her way. case-book, which he consulted. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the said he. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "When did she vanish, then?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but them?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'I am sure if I had known--' to talk it over. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Not in the least." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Holmes' room. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right because she had spent so short a time in this country that she kindly on the shoulder. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my have accepted such a situation. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There man. I know him from the photograph." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, on re-entering her father's house?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it gone. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Witness: Nothing definite. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, man. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "You have a clue?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. tapping his fingers upon the table. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of ways of our fellow-men." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Never to return." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came call it cruel." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of dear old homesteads?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the meanly of me." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle she might be summoned. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "And your mother is alive?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "But how?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide works. See paragraph 1.E below. to-night?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful carriage. It was a chestnut." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Not in a good cause." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you room had already been engaged for us. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, rose-bushes. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught