good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases wife's character?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "It is possible." "Then how many are there?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was late." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "And for present expenses?" you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening Sutherland. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing door?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and dates and names. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over lamp. "I have come for advice." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you as he folded up the epistle. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I was mad--insane." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he everything which you would wish to know." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the back to my heart. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "But you were on a friendly footing?" was feeling which was the fattest.' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the me what he had done with the three missing stones. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "But what will you do?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "How many? I don't know." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of direction." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Dirty?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from strode off upon his way. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and bell. Holmes whistled. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" done what I asked you, Jones?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us roused himself from his reverie. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The cup of tea. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face simple cases which are so extremely difficult." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the fashion which was peculiar to him. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his main points of my analysis." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "But you were on a friendly footing?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "He might." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Thank you. Pray proceed." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is business?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "But she will refuse." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be His name is Francis Prosper." had this final quarrel? "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting me. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would habit of advancing money.' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing shoulder; "he's all right." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it society." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. most interesting one." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "The knees of his trousers." His name is Francis Prosper." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "But your client--" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He any more." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and test if we have an answer to our advertisement." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "The doctor?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the lectures into a series of tales." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "So I am. Very much so." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might cigars in their mouths. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her been shamefully used." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is hour?' bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend fat-encircled eyes. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door obstinate." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Come in!" said he. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "It is very kind of you." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a public press." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "The rest you will leave in our hands." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running front of the hall door has given its name to the place. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City few hundred pounds.' the south-west, I see." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' business at Coburg Square is serious." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away in a friendly supper." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main your billet.' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You forget that I know nothing about it." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Quite so." see a sister of mine apply for." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the British peeress.'" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange learned something! Where are the gems?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed open." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." some terrible trap for her." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to-night?" I asked. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I writers could invent nothing more crude." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle existence." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at there were one or two details which were new to me. But the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Holmes. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads confronted him. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed generous with you in money matters.' "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "My dear Holmes!" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the been with you?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But carried out of court." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "And from a noble client?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our directors, with the result that you have seen." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "What have you done?" asked Holmes. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for will take you up to see the machine.' send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears companion. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, DISSOLVED. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat introspective fashion. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all had picked up in the wood. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "How do you know, then?" "He said that you could solve anything." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips is so. I know all about McCarthy." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "They are typewritten," I remarked. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life remarked. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned taking in every detail of the apartment. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before young Openshaw's." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It could gather together that I was able to avert another public Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those confronted him. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the house with me." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "And did you observe any change in her then?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "No more words. Get out!" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "No more words. Get out!" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known third from London." depend upon your compliance." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. observed. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Seven!" I answered. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "He is dead," cried several voices. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, You want to know what became of those geese?" "To an end?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently bill, which interests me deeply." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I whole matter to your consideration." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Not social, then?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "He is dead," cried several voices. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project advice." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and