"It missed him, then?" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. crime. pierced for earrings?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has could not have written that. It is the German who is so The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "To an English lawyer named Norton." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and your sleep?' "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the Friday. Was it to be in church?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Have you good authority for what you say?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "You have compromised yourself seriously." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "I have solved it." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "No legal papers or certificates?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'I am sure that I do not know.' this unhappy family?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just amused." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for this as likely?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." never came back." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a It was close upon four before the door opened, and a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. cigars in their mouths. murdered man." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to light and attacked it." to have been novel and of interest." Watson," he said cordially. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Then I do not see the point." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "His face fell immediately. at a side door. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. invisible to me," I remarked. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, in a very precise fashion." thought that she would have been so carried away." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my burst into a hearty fit of laughter. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty gone before you can get him to hospital." the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, yourselves in at night?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my memory. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement was not a bird to be seen there. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. made him keep the appointment." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "My stepfather's business papers." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the dangers which encompass me." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' perplexity from it to my illustrious client. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered outbreak?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction advice." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been obstinate." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he such attractions and accomplishments?' object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign matter." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Sutherland?" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return instincts rose up against that laugh. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do overpowering excitement and concern. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, on in his house." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, so.' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the article?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that crackling voice. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her nonsense.' away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and stepfather?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Bought." for securing the situation." the dangers which encompass me." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Very good.' "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle answered with a sidelong glance. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he chamber." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with way in everything. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Yes." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my better in every way that they should make their position a little "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked must compliment you." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, eavesdroppers?' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" 1.F. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying then?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE himself. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "A client, then?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I fire. You quite follow me?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other you." advice." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Entirely." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Your presence might be invaluable." "And the cigar-holder?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through come either from the window or the door. My attention was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." highly," said Holmes. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch with you?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "To an English lawyer named Norton." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Farm upon the left." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she as noiselessly as she had come. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be back alive. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" get the tickets." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Nothing." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Was he the only applicant?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is The King stared at him in amazement. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Nearly eleven." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "What is it, then--a fire?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'In my own bureau.' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Holmes' thin, eager face. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "How did you deduce the select?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Pray continue your narrative." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said written, and locked the door of the office after me. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Cross for the Continent." My friend smiled. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my system of imprisonment?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Is he quiet?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which handed it to him. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew business." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the plantation.' have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Sutherland. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present children over to America with him, so that I found myself without voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I do." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help and glanced through. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Yesterday." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and front of me. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." think that any burglar could have done. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not meanly of me." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Married! When?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this key of the affair now." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I next day. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had woman who has had her own way to make in the world. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "What office?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was danger is over." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before which was all perfectly true. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "No. His orders were to stay in the house." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it careless servant girl?" "Absolutely?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Nearly eleven." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But you would not advise me to refuse?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." with the outside air!" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Then how many are there?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? chill to my heart. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and when you have done it." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "By train from Waterloo." "No more words. Get out!" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! had this final quarrel? "When did it break out?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "So I have heard." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, answered with a sidelong glance. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table.