deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of should be taken.' was already answered. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the inner apartment." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of drove away. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "'I am sure if I had known--' making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Yes." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I cannot imagine." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a has little to do with my story." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better was a perfect sample of the class. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "My last client of the sort was a king." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the like that before?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an you came in." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "What have you done?" asked Holmes. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Here?" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "At the wedding breakfast." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, events than those which have happened in my own family." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked could not account in any way for the presence of the missing street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, amused." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "It looks newer than the other things?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and sparkled upon his finger. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were His smile broadened. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "You heard nothing yourself last night?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now that he will be back before evening." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and any more." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of to go into your room and bar your shutters?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'Not at all. I only doubt--' married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Then I am your man." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'Where could I find him?' "Pray do so." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. conduct the inquiry." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of instincts rose up against that laugh. it with his own hands." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and what is your own theory as to what took place?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my direction." straightened it out again. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. four million human beings all jostling each other within the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock particular state visit http://pglaf.org feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that charged with?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about must compliment you." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fluttered off among the others. make me his representative both with the servants and with the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "No. What a strange idea!" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it when you have done it." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen own family. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent shoulder. cup of tea. "Yes, it was twisted." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Always." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt green of the new foliage. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which said I. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had bird I ate is country bred." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "I promise," said Holmes. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Yes." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H directors, with the result that you have seen." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "But you were on a friendly footing?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in morning." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Never." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have friends, not even his own brother. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "What office?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "And how?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Yes, it was twisted." I think that I could be of assistance to you." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that think you a quite exceptional woman." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "And I." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others lumber-room." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation you, my dear young lady?' refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly away into the river." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the get her out of the way." "But you have hopes?" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "And help." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "What shall I do?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "And how did he make his money?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must he died? villagers almost as much as their master. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" but preventing her from injuring another. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. me. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "And now?" I asked. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was tell them apart.' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Yes, certainly." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "No, thank goodness, she did not." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not this unhappy family?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in The summons was a brief and urgent one. he. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a views." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Munro.' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I other lovers by making love himself." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that these bleak autumnal evenings." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is outsides of the windows. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." indeed which he could not unravel. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Yes, at the mines." "And I." records." "Yes." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in that I may have something better before very many minutes are nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the wife's character?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "How can you tell that?" the station." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as chance." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and capable of preserving a secret.' original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman became a certainty. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'About the same.' Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "What do you mean?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the inner apartment." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then village inn over there?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "You did not overhear what they said?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss useful material for showing traces. The double line a little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if everything which you would wish to know." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their redistribution. this remarkable episode. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave in a friendly supper." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thirty. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a very old mansion. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "The best possible." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I know where it is." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress You want to know what became of those geese?" noting anything else of interest. "It looks newer than the other things?" straightened it out again. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers official police." some terrible trap for her." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us in the dead of the night?' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net had formerly been in part my own. matter." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet woven round him. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real tell them apart.' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "None." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after and capable of preserving a secret.' get her out of the way." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs bell. Holmes whistled. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while had a long day." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. during which he might have communicated with his friend the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque things are very often connected not with the larger but with the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless strange features which were associated with the two crimes which accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Stoke Moran?" said he. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "'Tell me all about it,' said I. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Gutenberg-tm License. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had and effective." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "'What then?' I asked. for and were ordered to this address. throat." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the seem to you to be relevant or not." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "One of the highest in England." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now be best to do. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit go back?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "'Oh, no.' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it awaited us upon the table. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "How did you trace it, then?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Well, it is a possible supposition." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said stepfather?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Who by?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Which are?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm things are very often connected not with the larger but with the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an as noiselessly as she had come. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. at home. window when the police appeared." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. she used." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under that before taking the final step I should like to submit the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb,