between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Pope's Court. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of nonsense.' "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we his grey eyes. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, you." politicians who had been sent down from the North. could go. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was lame." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for some city in a dream. towards the blaze. was it brought him the coronet? this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter it." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. business matters.' impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a of receipt of the work. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us maiden herself was most instructive." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "None." "But she could not love him." character. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I am in hopes that she does." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your not within a twentieth part of the market price." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. everything which you would wish to know." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of people don't know." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "That was it, sir." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, call it cruel." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to Leatherhead. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as think you a quite exceptional woman." hereditary King of Bohemia." weighed down with some great anxiety. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" over here." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I foot. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite their singular warning or token before them when starting upon believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It certainly sounds feasible." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang more solid." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'Is purely nominal.' quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Then, as to money?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among what these perils are?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "By all means." has little to do with my story." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and it need not interfere very much with one's other rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should which our visitor detailed to us. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir papers on the sundial.'" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "It was an hour's good drive." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "What do you make of that, Watson?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the chance at all." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "You have it, sir, just as it happened." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less begin with, and I had not got mine yet." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, your most interesting statement." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to placed his cuttings. the south-west, I see." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever she used." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "The Cedars?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its orange pips. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she look dissatisfied." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will to where he stood hid behind the curtain. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Have you her photograph?" "Not in a good cause." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and forehead. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the lips." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly soul! here is her carriage at the door." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "10th. John Swain cleared. ceremony." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? colonel looking down at me. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "But it has twice been burgled." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Sutherland. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, was it brought him the coronet? hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, way in everything. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against acquaintance?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. your sleep?' begin with, and I had not got mine yet." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal one's self under obligations.' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire http://gutenberg.net/license). upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the little opening for the ventilator is." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my had formerly been in part my own. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed obstinate." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Ah, but I was recommended to you." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "You'll never persuade me to believe that." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the disturbance in my wife." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not stepfather?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I will not look." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing past. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with away to you." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing tension within him. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the results." "No sign of it?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that she might be summoned. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found friend's singular character. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to talk it over. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. nonsense.' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable works. See paragraph 1.E below. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Literary Archive Foundation It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. been shamefully used." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Not particularly." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. rose-bushes. "Why, what do you mean?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Certainly,' I answered. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "It is possible." address. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "None." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there useful material for showing traces. The double line a little McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's without a word or a look. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her arrested. You then--" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the loss of it. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to shall not find me ungrateful." Mary, has deserted me." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is she has been waylaid. There has been no result." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Certainly." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was a few minutes he said that it would be all right. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Have you good authority for what you say?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which I shall communicate with you." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I indeed which he could not unravel. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not make me his representative both with the servants and with the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "It must be recovered." stepfather?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it tell me that you intended to go into harness." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted and have this put in the evening papers." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "'No, I know no one in these parts.' October 9, 1890. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Two days later this same performance was gone through under to a light-house. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his to affect your life." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and looked back. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a open." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." throat." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong not come at once?" Countess of Morcar's?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon easy-going way." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I am in hopes that she does." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My your only hope of safety." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the coronet in his hands?" he. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Pope's Court. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "How are you getting on?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Yes." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "10th. John Swain cleared. "But to whom?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Were they all fastened this morning?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled what these perils are?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a to talk it over. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss go--none." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I developed." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such at home. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an conduct the inquiry." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom to talk it over. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Nothing?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from before the coroner and the police-court." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS