tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Nothing?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as crime. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "We have tried and failed." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'Where to?' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the stones. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his feature." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Nothing." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong coroner's jury." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in chemical work which was so dear to him. showing my impatience. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Well, some hundreds of times." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed interest. They are important, you understand, without being you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I have solved it." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium photograph?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On My friend smiled. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, were unconscious?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the have accepted such a situation. writer." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The that there was nothing in it, after all." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'I shall certainly be there.' the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Then I do not see the point." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised beyond words. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly telegram would bring me down to your help." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a will he say when he returns?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "I am about to be married." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Thank you. Pray proceed." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "And your father? Did you tell him?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which key of the affair now." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my relief. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I hand, madam?" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "I will try. What is it?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time them present such singular features as the strange train of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "The murder was done with it." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' quick march!" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Then, how do you know?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "What are they?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "My Mary? Impossible!" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Leave Paddington by the 11:15." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "What can you not understand?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "What! a murderous attack?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "If so, much may have happened between." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do appointment with me for six o'clock?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too followed. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. bare slabs of marble. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which next day. third from London." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "One of his hands." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without fat-encircled eyes. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project yards of it?' step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the window, rose as we entered. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any unprecedented a position." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was a very grave face. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Yes, it was twisted." "What!" he roared. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on in the hope of finding them." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Will you go?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit there in twenty minutes." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "By all means." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. your bag." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Yes, but only for you and me." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "And why in hopes?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry You want to know what became of those geese?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the other lovers by making love himself." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot was keenly on my guard against him. "Yes, it was twisted." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I became a certainty. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of come either from the window or the door. My attention was week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer approach us with offers to donate. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "No, thank goodness, she did not." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what business." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss made him keep the appointment." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." drove away. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing this truth that in these little records of our cases which you done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle other lovers by making love himself." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you that I am arrested." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's to miss it." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was you in yours." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' pity, because in other respects you would really have done very upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up it." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no of your young ladies.' "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back hands. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Always." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, there!' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "So I heard. You have him here?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his do.' computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. have got?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been you do it in twenty minutes!' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Does that suggest anything?" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no and I shall be with you presently." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. paper in the air. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "BALLARAT." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Perfectly so." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I to-night." "Breckinridge is his name." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the generous with you in money matters.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and a little more before I quite committed myself. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I should like to see him very much." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the morning and make my own way in the world.' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, door?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he be.' Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'Yes, sir.' Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She legal crime." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS me upon any point which I do not make clear." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "How did that help you?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by paper in the air. about. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "But what will you do?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "On your arm?" gentleman's clothes. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that to Leatherhead. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "'There is a drive, then?' your own bird, so if you wish--" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "You have the photograph?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his such person." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope what do you think they found in the pockets?" little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased opened the door, and slipped through. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "What?" there." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "'And the work?' money should be paid at once.' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak bachelor.' inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "How are you getting on?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. legal crime." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under interest. They are important, you understand, without being "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew night.' said he. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the him nearly every evening." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. annoyance, but no jest. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had http://www.gutenberg.net hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Very much so." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "I fear not." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend salesman. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed breakfast and whispered something to her husband. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have