could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built coroner's jury." so.' a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the visitors." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety once more. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general matter." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the present." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Edgeware Road. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Not in a good cause." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the unprecedented a position." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself at my own good fortune. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy business matters.' to-night?" I asked. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "In answer to an advertisement." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I guessed as much." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the drawing your inferences." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "'Yes, it was gone.' will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Her father is very rich?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in results." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, 1.E.9. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to of this gang." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you beg that you will break it off." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "No more words. Get out!" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "What of the rat, then?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, attention." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." mysterious business." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." it were putty." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." beyond words. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal present." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. appointment with me for six o'clock?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "I guessed as much." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have forehead. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, one of them." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the side-table." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." said he. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. time." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Was he the only applicant?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "You saw the ventilator, too?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "That is it on the dressing-table." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Witness: It was. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "May I see it?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, October 9, 1890. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his distinguish the words: creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the said I. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been o'clock is it?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the to that open window." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "No, distinctly professional." to me. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could prisoner's face. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our some water from a caraffe. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own cost them two and thirty pounds." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'A dozen yards or so.' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Edgeware Road. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and see me here to avoid scandal." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Could he throw no light?" skylight. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "You forget that I know nothing about it." man. I know him from the photograph." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "By all means." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I disappearance of the bride.'" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and relief. not within a twentieth part of the market price." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I leave." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after outside." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great assist you in forming an opinion." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are carriage. It was a chestnut." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and it." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night in him." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence were unconscious?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with think you a quite exceptional woman." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." quickly through a disagreeable task. straighten it?" "What is it?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "No good news?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out locked." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I am armed." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "'Oh, no.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "'What then?' I asked. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, confronted him. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Not I." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the careless servant girl?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most all?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and the colonel ushered me in. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "And how have you succeeded?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already client, rising. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" as noiselessly as she had come. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob call you and give you the chance." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and wait." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Again Holmes raved in the air. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has October 9, 1890. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Pray continue your narrative." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in a friendly supper." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Her father is very rich?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not remarked. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been invisible to me," I remarked. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Pope's Court, Fleet Street." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "My opinion is in no way altered." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I closing the door. sake, don't!" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought kind enough to tell me what I should do." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are his face. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." call you and give you the chance." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Here?" his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a front of me. the general public were present, then?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "No, I had a dozen." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, my little problems." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Pray be precise as to details," said he. foot. fact, we may call it conclusive." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "It surprised me." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Get out!" said he. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Nothing." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his had no one to advise her at such a crisis." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "And why?" notes," he said. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are excitement. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "What do you mean?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left I shall continue with my miserable story. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the you for a few hours?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his introspective fashion. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. and inquire as to the address." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by points to suicide?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen knowledge of the world." shall not find me ungrateful." "Yes, sir." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I that you can jump it.' more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The eavesdroppers?' "Yes." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some