man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "We must have a cab." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook notes," he said. Watson," he said cordially. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found morning." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." in him." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the and the whole place is in a blaze." "I will try. What is it?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in companion quietly. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be just called myself is not exactly my own." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Did you become engaged then?" to-night?' "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." McCarthy." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been all that?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "He is dead," cried several voices. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Yes, certainly." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up DISSOLVED. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down copied or distributed: "Then I do not see the point." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Tired-looking or fresh?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled that the gas is not laid on in his house?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Absolutely?" crowd. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Do you know him?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "'Certainly not.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much never to learn it at all." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and any more." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to-morrow." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he in the hope of finding them." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative address. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it at a side door. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the date of his supposed suicide." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Perhaps we may make them less so." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a I held the little printed slip to the light. "You were travelling in the States?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Dr. Becher's." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that he has suffered." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her gentleman's clothes. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were will not take me long to tell. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "And now?" He raised his hand. the bed, and you in that chair." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate ran thus: fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I answered that I had not. "Yes." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black ventilator." help us in this matter." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "When did it break out?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the stable lane now." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Yes." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes to-night?" I asked. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. so.' "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to a more successful conclusion." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but which we had just quitted. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. to take care of herself." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Very truly yours, "Deserted you?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, but preventing her from injuring another. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. I nodded again. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Nothing?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "You did not overhear what they said?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your correct than the official force." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Yes, he did." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Only as much as we can deduce." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself of receipt of the work. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Yesterday." "What of the rat, then?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "I am armed." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah three fields round his house, and there he would take his not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may in your London, you will know that the office of the company is It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small from the brougham. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates promised to bring home. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and definite end. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was easy-going way." "What! You do not mean bodies?" any." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? in darkness. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and friends, not even his own brother. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "No. What a strange idea!" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which he bowed and left the room without another word. straighten it?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of silent! Oh, he will be silent!' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the driver. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he it right.' minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with me where it went to?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the his wife has ceased to love him." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, locked." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it in. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted ready to-morrow?' deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In that threaten you." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. morning." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I yards of it?' "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Precisely." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so manager. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many ways of our fellow-men." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment were wasted." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an have I gained?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, families. Now for the facts. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion direction." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might question," said Holmes, smiling. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "It is possible." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Was she in good spirits?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass is," said he presently: "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "In heaven's name, what for?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "What I expected to see." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Witness: Nothing definite. "You horrify me!" cigars in the box." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce past. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Pray do so." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Street. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, stalked out of the room. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "The landlord of the Alpha." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "You forget that I know nothing about it." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'Entirely.' withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "He is still with you, I presume?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. have an American origin." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of things are very often connected not with the larger but with the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock,