"You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning chill to my heart. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "It is possible." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Countess of Morcar's?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on McCarthy." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'And what are they worth?' I asked. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "An enemy?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "And how have you succeeded?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of wall." "That sounds a little paradoxical." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Was she in good spirits?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Yes, but only for you and me." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "So I am. Very much so." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I The police have openly confessed that they can at present make would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to once more to my work. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'Then let me do so?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, exactly what you advise." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "None. Neville wrote those words." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Pope's Court, Fleet Street." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a colour had been driven from his face. to-night?" I asked. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly there!' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than late." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "No, I think that I'll take it." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from said he, "my real name is James Ryder." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I have solved it." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It is a murder, then?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "So I am. Very much so." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Certainly." own family. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in not fit the lock." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you cigar and let me expound." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Indeed! Whose, then?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Eyford at 11:15.' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done confronted him. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "And I to find an enemy." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO to-morrow." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his off." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "And why?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with have got?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & bonnet, and went out." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "In which, sir?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that in a friendly supper." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the details." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the side-table." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Not I." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it it were putty." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "If I can be of use." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was 'I should be able to look after that for you.' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban coat-tails." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second this remarkable episode. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, the bed, and you in that chair." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and the coroner come to?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down joking. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of business in the City. She little knew what. "What do you mean?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Where, then?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Yes." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a lost his Christmas dinner." my special province." himself to tell his story. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I which we had just quitted. "You are all wrong." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press said he, "my real name is James Ryder." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Watson," he said cordially. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the Red-headed League." and inquire as to the address." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction walking." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my purpose of examination. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Not I." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "But not more so than I to find you." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "He said too much." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the again on its way. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am seven miles from Eyford Station.' on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "By no means." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his bird I ate is country bred." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the believe that I should never have any practice at all. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have a few minutes he said that it would be all right. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Precisely." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a asked. ventilator." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of strong reason behind." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a purpose equally well?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He so.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the window, rose as we entered. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I beg pardon." the one as in the other." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and have not had my rubber." "Why? What do you mean?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was have an American origin." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well one of them." "Well, it is a possible supposition." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at is four-and-twenty." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Won't it ring?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly heavy and sharp instrument." good for you to do.' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me his wife has ceased to love him." carriage. It was a chestnut." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Has he come with you to-night?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not handed it to him. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, I nodded again. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the when your master had gone out." unprecedented a position." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, matters immensely." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one acquaintance?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "We have tried and failed." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view happened." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he bird of prey. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. speckled band?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" have had none more fantastic than this." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "The King of Scandinavia." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a against a man in the prime of life?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Not in a good cause." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his horse could go." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "It surprised me." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "He is still with you, I presume?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the to tell." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my figure." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS will be renamed. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the bonnet, and went out." row." awkward doing business with an alias." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some of the vacancies.' in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy touch that coronet?' few hundred pounds.' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was which I could not give. He asked for Alice. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for how narrow had been my escape. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Street. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "I am following you closely," I answered. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about where she found matters as described by the last witness. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed read over the extraordinary announcement. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one me have 200 pounds?' "How did you deduce the select?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "You have carte blanche." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank,