the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "And Miss Sutherland?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of trying to your nerves." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "And that is--" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "There is the writing." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Of Friday, June 19th." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own there!' "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Then, as to money?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle dramatic, in fact." "What are they?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by and I shall be with you presently." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late hurried by. "None." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, asked. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had to a more successful conclusion." criminal. We have already had experience of such." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'Ample.' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I assure you that I am in your hands." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" place of silver." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally fashion which was peculiar to him. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at know all about it," he snarled. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up problems help me to do so." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, laugh and put his lips to my ear. cigars in the box." bled considerably." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to that I may have something better before very many minutes are "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, with frightened eyes at his accuser. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "And on what day did he meet his death?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." come either from the window or the door. My attention was That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not arms and began to sob in a high treble key. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards like gravel from a pit.' the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of room. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open I leave." one else, I think." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of closing the door. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind that he has suffered." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "The knees of his trousers." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "An enemy?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to humiliation." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself said he at last. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "I shall be delighted." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the very letters. But what is this written above them?' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old from you?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few here and I will read it to you: which we had just quitted. in a friendly supper." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons once more for Briony Lodge. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, happened." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was not come at once?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of persecution?" public press." chambers. occurred." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I you." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, call you and give you the chance." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been prisoner's face. the coronet at all injured?" lost nothing by them." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the wedding?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he deduce something from that?" McCarthy." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "No, my brougham is waiting." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my behind me. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Does that suggest anything?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their before, for it was considerably after midnight. "I think that it is very probable." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'Yes.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with long narrative. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it never came back." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon your most interesting statement." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "A confidential servant?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into there." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. heavily into it. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "My last client of the sort was a king." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, cheerful." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are gone. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, three of the beryls in it, was missing. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all the one as in the other." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Then, how do you know?" "How did you deduce the select?" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "What steps will you take?" I asked. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I do." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "My dear Holmes!" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, disappearance of the bride.'" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Nothing." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Precisely." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." himself. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Have you her photograph?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't morning." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel be sorry for having acted so harshly." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "And what then?" "But I am all in the dark." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I say that I have solved it." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. towards the blaze. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "And for present expenses?" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her head. So long, then!" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right asked. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this gone. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "It's nothing of the kind." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Well, some hundreds of times." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we closing the door. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took sparkled upon his finger. "'Why that?' I asks. and no precautions can guard against." be there in time for your coming." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us within hail.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the third from London." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not I was concerned in it." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his of." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "But it has twice been burgled." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to The telegram which we eventually received came late one night returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the excitement. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." most interesting one." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already I am not easy in my mind about them." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency tapping his fingers upon the table. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Absolutely?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London light and attacked it." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I saw her in conversation with her maid." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project enough to aid us in our search." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled think that any burglar could have done. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his amused." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "But what will you do?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to neither fascinating nor artistic." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. it." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Did he not advertise?" "Well, some hundreds of times." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me appeared upon the scene." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a something of him before." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could about here speaks of his kindness to him." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "You have carte blanche." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Why? What do you mean?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I will get her to show me." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Could he throw no light?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It is possible." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I could go. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more here and I will read it to you: "Yes." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There congratulate you again." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, the roots.