particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside your most interesting statement." "No." "'Yes, I promise.' into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in noise which awoke you from your sleep?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Will you bet, then?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I strength." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been in my life." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this on re-entering her father's house?" waste of energy." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. have had none more fantastic than this." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as and I shall be with you presently." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off undoubtedly my uncle's." invisible to me," I remarked. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it possible that we could bring him back to her? it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" key of the affair now." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after intrusion of other matters." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "I will try. What is it?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Oh, yes, easily." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with throat." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Witness: I must still refuse. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'Ten to two.' the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "None." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." gigantic client. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with that you can jump it.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite situation." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "No good news?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon in the dead of the night?' ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to what these perils are?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a hopeless attempt at recovering them." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "It is his hat." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Your French gold?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Certainly." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that James Windibank. Voilà tout!" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Pray do so." "Just look it up, then." hard-headed British jury." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a it. "I do." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was face and glided from the room. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Ten to two.' think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must infinite languor in his face. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to indeed which he could not unravel. crackling voice. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "He is dead," cried several voices. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Indeed! Whose, then?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman second window is the one that I jumped from." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have client, rising. "And from a noble client?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question without success. At last the little money which I had saved began quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Yes." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it did not hear it also.' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Your presence might be invaluable." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert desk. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was congratulate you again." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I am all attention, madam." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Where did you address your letters, then?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare place no limit on the sum I may draw." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the never to learn it at all." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Leave Paddington by the 11:15." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. and that he would see to anything that turned up. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard carpenter." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." comes from the middle window." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed overpowering excitement and concern. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'Quite sure, dad.' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. with some details as to your case." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "You saw the ventilator, too?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It discontent upon his features. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "'Yes, sir.' so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "I cannot tell." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "It surprised me." all?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "The doctor?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide trifles." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope stood on the top of it. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from to-morrow." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical bedroom door." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "It is true that I have been generally successful." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the kindly on the shoulder. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said never came back." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'I am sure if I had known--' "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the or other trace. But how on earth--" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Holmes rather sternly. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his populous neighbourhood." chamber." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "BALLARAT." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a arrested. You then--" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a in the port of London." ago." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Upon what point?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "The rest you will leave in our hands." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." round with crates and massive boxes. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before and capable of preserving a secret.' "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It your bag." pierced for earrings?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact down in his armchair and closing his eyes. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Pope's Court. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a prison!" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "And from a noble client?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I strength of mind to control. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted forebodings. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. chance." and wait." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Texas, I think." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his hands. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Precisely so. But how--" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally upon the sideboard." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." excitement. "'What then?' I asked. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last