in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Who was the criminal, then?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "On Monday." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held never to learn it at all." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: brain must have something in it." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a plantation.' "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "No sign of it?" "The vanishing of the lady." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "It is his hat." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a chair. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the King without delay." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "When did she vanish, then?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an families. Now for the facts. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. round and wave him away like that.' you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Only as much as we can deduce." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." have an American origin." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Arthur Conan Doyle many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this of the vacancies.' his forehead." unprofitable." "I see many objections to any such theory." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "But you were on a friendly footing?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "You have compromised yourself seriously." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, everything which you would wish to know." with her." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert ordinary clothes on?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I will try. What is it?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Where did he live, then?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have in the hope of finding them." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs The note was undated, and without either signature or address. and laid it on the table. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for read it out to me." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a depend upon my doing so.' Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Certainly." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic himself in a perplexing position. will not take me long to tell. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the me. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger second." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'You cannot say what it was?' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he clang of the bell. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking everything which you would wish to know." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much in. awkward doing business with an alias." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which key turn in the lock." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "But how did you gain them?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his God! What an exposure! What can I do?" three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "No, finished." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "I was mad--insane." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Precisely." of your young ladies.' the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just that threaten you." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the just called myself is not exactly my own." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'Never,' said I. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "And how in the world did you find them?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "And now?" He raised his hand. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the For additional contact information: "On your arm?" upon a handsome competence. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Breckinridge is his name." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. you." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and gives a meaning to it." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and hopeless attempt at recovering them." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "I promise," said Holmes. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Holmes' face clouded over. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'Most admirably.' refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon DISSOLVED. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will III. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain ordinary clothes on?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers I have it here in my museum." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and you do it in twenty minutes!' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of advice." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "You think that he is dead?" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and you give your casting vote to?" over part of the map. "What do you read?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the to-night?" I asked. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without observed. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I am all attention, madam." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I would pay ten." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. young Openshaw's." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a compunction about shooting them down." "She told me to ask you." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, nothing with him." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at tension within him. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She mysterious business." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and the colonel ushered me in. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Ha! you find it so?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I will do it." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any drove away. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being tied." man. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than him, that man would not have given me such complete information few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the system of imprisonment?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute some mystery and the punishment of some crime." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of fattened it expressly for you.' drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the meant." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and must compliment you." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he there when the Rucastles went away." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. residence of the great financier. were new raised from a basin. get the tickets." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the question," said Holmes, smiling. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a his eyes and forehead. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her morning." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good you?' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which over part of the map. "What do you read?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Precisely so. But how--" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was fishes. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "He might." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "It is true that I have been generally successful." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of to change my dress. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself brought there to personate someone, and the real person is gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And Irene Adler?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already humiliation." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, appeared upon the scene." observed. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "But I am all in the dark." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a locked." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'How far from the body?' "Of what?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work in this note: careless servant girl?" "Never." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other highroad, where all traces were lost. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a chemical work which was so dear to him. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, crowd. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are chambers. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "This concluded the examination of the witness." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the roots. points to suicide?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, weary and pale-looking. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders correct than the official force." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so the date of his supposed suicide." extraordinary contortions. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the nice household for a young lady." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from photograph?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and second window is the one that I jumped from." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will go from here to the Strand." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his there!' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the been shamefully used." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies such person." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There there has been an enclosure here!" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for a few minutes he said that it would be all right. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss I held the little printed slip to the light. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The