matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "I shall be delighted." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'What are you doing there?' he asked. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion business came to an end." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really three of the beryls in it, was missing. crime." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the jewels which you have stolen?' from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their spare." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, drove away. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." invisible to me," I remarked. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to was keenly on my guard against him. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a before the coroner and the police-court." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the unkempt, staring out at me. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to will be renamed. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents was used.' patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable kind enough to tell me what I should do." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in License. You must require such a user to return or "And leave your case unfinished?" in the dead of the night?' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking retorted upon me, and I on you." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! troubles have been weighing upon his mind. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from answered with a sidelong glance. "How do you know, then?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was were new raised from a basin. business." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "But of what society?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Never." minor matters until to-morrow." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a this unhappy family?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "'I am sure that I do not know.' it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "So I am. Very much so." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he breakfast?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, forecastle of an emigrant ship. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused laugh and put his lips to my ear. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who might have a private word with us. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote of." that, and I came down." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who subject to the trademark license, especially commercial precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "But who is he?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the devil!" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "You think that he is dead?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could which was all perfectly true. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the village inn over there?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the waste of energy." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church you do it in twenty minutes!' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise learned something! Where are the gems?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are that threaten you." "By all means." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the will take you up to see the machine.' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, province." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "My dear Holmes!" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "There is the writing." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure ago." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "How are you getting on?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Project Gutenberg-tm works. fattened it expressly for you.' the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well placed his cuttings. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Perhaps we may make them less so." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Count Von Kramm." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were row." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses me where it went to?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Leadenhall Street--and--" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' best detective that ever lived. man. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "The vanishing of the lady." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the promised to bring home. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. all?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "What then?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "And leave your case unfinished?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his his fortune, and I went back to pa. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, fact, we may call it conclusive." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "So it appears." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had not come at once?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would was a perfect sample of the class. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall extraordinary contortions. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be papers must be those that are destroyed.' against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "This photograph!" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'Why that?' I asks. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent to me. fait accompli?" II. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." question," said Holmes, smiling. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a yards of it?' immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I was concerned in it." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "And I say east," said my patient. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day intrusion of other matters." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, acquaintance?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "None." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't I am not easy in my mind about them." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a business in the City. She little knew what. business." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, amused." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of see a sister of mine apply for." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'In my own bureau.' fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And what then?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Stolen." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every see me here to avoid scandal." posted to-day." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take key turn in the lock." Eyford." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Heh?' very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his huge brown hands. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the coronet in his hand?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "The gentleman I describe." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight back alive. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. have been better. It is all right." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so late." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "We were both in the photograph." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was in the hope of finding them." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bare slabs of marble. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "And is that all?" "Yes, from Horsham." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Holmes' face clouded over. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. three fields round his house, and there he would take his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a sentimental considerations in the background which would induce they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the the roots. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior License. You must require such a user to return or his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. me. You must get home instantly and act." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I was mad--insane." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Not I." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated shoulder. directly by questioning you." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow said I. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.'