been deceived." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to if only as a check to my own memory." upon the shelf for the interim." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without trying to your nerves." "I am following you closely," I answered. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon place no limit on the sum I may draw." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'And what salary do you ask?' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom less than 26s. 4d. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'It is locked up,' I answered. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution way: my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the closing the door. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, views." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have with frightened eyes at his accuser. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "'Stolen!' he cried. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have without a word or a look. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "I was sure that I might rely on you." cigar and let me expound." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in one's self under obligations.' have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to himself. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. one which it was hard to resist. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Married! When?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "About a month then." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "How did you deduce the select?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I in one or two places in England?' "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford It may be so in this case, also." "How are you getting on?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part questioning and rather startled gaze. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS corner of the building. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and it means?" arrangements." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "No, I had a dozen." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me father's young wife. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' do you make of it all?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Why? What do you mean?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in wanted for ourselves." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Very much so." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, you understand?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate that threaten you." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between upon the sideboard." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "None." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until bill, which interests me deeply." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Why, what do you mean?" "'In my own bureau.' his eyes and forehead. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. jewels which you have stolen?' comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into tapping his fingers upon the table. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I all?" on in his house." allusion to a rat. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The His name is Francis Prosper." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin all that?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "But of what society?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I at my own good fortune. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "How can you tell that?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took approach us with offers to donate. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I would pay ten." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham article?" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But how will you look?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "What then?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while troubles have been weighing upon his mind. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your away to you." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning returning from some small jollification and was making his way hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our breakfast?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "What then?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I would pay ten." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to companion. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our little trying to do so much typewriting?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, tied." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended in the port of London." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "And you don't know his address?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "That is easily got." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your happened." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. province." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are companion imperturbably. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable furiously. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk was a perfect sample of the class. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good your troubles." father's young wife. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the my friend's incisive reasoning. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and glanced through. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Not particularly." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." could gather together that I was able to avert another public week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning examine." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the may have an influence upon European history." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling in darkness. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a very morning of my second wedding." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "No, I am descending." power." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Stolen." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and laid it on the table. "But how did you gain them?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth matter over." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "What?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should here and I will read it to you: man. I know him from the photograph." Holmes' room. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I stood on the top of it. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 I shall communicate with you." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We to-night." "The best possible." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever arrangements." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important is," said he presently: Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to guilty parties." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. make me his representative both with the servants and with the power." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over row." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "What I expected to see." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, been shamefully used." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be in the dead of the night?' waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced never to learn it at all." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to best detective that ever lived. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of perplexity from it to my illustrious client. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it most important business. It is probable that he will be away all harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'Most admirably.' "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. minor matters until to-morrow." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "But your client--" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Texas, I think." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and man. I know him from the photograph." know that the truth is known." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Certainly." not come at once?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "You have a clue?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I sake, don't!" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was may never be exposed to such a temptation." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of for securing the situation." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "His face fell immediately. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and him nearly every evening." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for