schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Witness: It was. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Did your wife hear all this?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the galvanised. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to this remarkable episode. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Gutenberg-tm License. you want, then?' second window is the one that I jumped from." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the happened." "'I have heard so.' my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'Yes, I promise.' they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "And now?" He raised his hand. other, as fresh and trim as possible. something of him before." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "My opinion is in no way altered." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between his huge brown hands. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the window, rose as we entered. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and floor. fact, we may call it conclusive." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I say that I have solved it." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Yes. He waved his hands." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "I was sure that I might rely on you." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it fattened it expressly for you.' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Whose house is it?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "But how?" cigars in the box." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open be sorry for having acted so harshly." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly the south-west, I see." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her train from Paddington which would bring you there at about breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, presume?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Yes." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "I will try. What is it?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "It is half-past ten now." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains own family. What do you deduce from it?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any business." "Tired-looking or fresh?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." bird I ate is country bred." suddenly upon us." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a someone who had been in Australia." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "'You cannot say what it was?' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs which should have the effect of calling the attention of the habit of advancing money.' about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the arrangements." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem situation." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land hardly wander." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "What can it mean?" I gasped. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from away in different directions, and I went off to make my own stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and you." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his of note-paper. It read in this fashion: until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Where is it, then?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "He disappeared so suddenly." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place looking up at the numbers of the houses." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret once more. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, indiscretion." front of me. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich tell me that you intended to go into harness." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that true." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him started for the Temple to see my husband. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Yes, he did." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is you came in." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "A client, then?" chair. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner individual and becomes the badge of a society." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "And what then?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found writing, and yet I know it well." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "'How far from the body?' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect pity, because in other respects you would really have done very tell him that I know him to be innocent." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster you." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project was not a bird to be seen there. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." out of this horrible affair." trifles." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'Certainly not.' suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was have I gained?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms and files of the old papers, following the future career of every her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Now, then, what's the last entry?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a it." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "VIOLET HUNTER." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to arrive at through this?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Certainly, madam." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the that you saw all that I did." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, despair." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in tension within him. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Never." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was client, rising. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "I will not look." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of himself. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are upon the white wrist. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left been." "Game for a morning drive?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. appeared upon the scene." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to to-night?" I asked. "It is no ordinary one." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is to talk it over. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "'Why that?' I asks. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and that I can to serve you." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from status with the IRS. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Yes, it was twisted." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain do.' tied." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the 11:15.' which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This prove to be little relation between the different incidents of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous carried out of court." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Stolen." you understand?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "And I say east," said my patient. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Yes, certainly." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their lips." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the and all of them with the keenest interest. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that purpose of examination. "But how?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "What can it mean?" I gasped. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the coronet at all injured?" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a do." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was beg that you will break it off." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then compunction about shooting them down." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "'Certainly not.' conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap way in everything. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you strode off upon his way. spark where all is dark to me." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE in this way: "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "No legal papers or certificates?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "There is the writing." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, wife's character?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm hopeless attempt at recovering them." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There likely to be some crony of the landlady's." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "But we can't all be." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." must be when I saw the door open.' Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Very truly yours, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the room while you explain this matter?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to arrive at through this?" have accepted such a situation. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." stammered. "How did you trace it, then?" You want to know what became of those geese?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and prisoner's face. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I cannot imagine." "And who is her maid?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us meant." and a shock of very red hair. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no come either from the window or the door. My attention was his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated cup of tea. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "She walked into the breakfast-room." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we extraordinary contortions. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" acted in my house last night?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "It is possible." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute fattened it expressly for you.' something of him before." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking once more for Briony Lodge. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine daring than any effort of the imagination." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, upon the white wrist. may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Why, what do you mean?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, there has been an enclosure here!" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Miss Holder?" arrangements." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man