"I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Which are?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that of note-paper. It read in this fashion: outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one confronted him. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before fashion which was peculiar to him. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "I cannot tell." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I am armed." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily think that any burglar could have done. this as likely?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing in his power. here and I will read it to you: "'A dozen yards or so.' our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one points in connection with it which never have been, and probably little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come woman." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Oh, fresh and glossy." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a What do you deduce from it?" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a be best to do. round with crates and massive boxes. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I you in yours." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father bedroom door." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" official police." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an His name is Francis Prosper." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of means taking possession of that which another person has a prior highroad, where all traces were lost. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building experiences." is now desirous of getting those letters back." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum once more on the important position which you have been fortunate son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "BALLARAT." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an felt the room to be a little close.' "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" cigars in the box." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "And how did you find out?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. carried out of court." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with foresight and the moral retrogression?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up bill, which interests me deeply." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the devil!" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was but preventing her from injuring another. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I will try. What is it?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "To the police?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Witness: I must still refuse. "No." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." extraordinary contortions. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Was there a secret marriage?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Which are?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" redistribution. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something my secret was safe in his possession. to take care of herself." answer." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new breakfast?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass any more." the bottom.' turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Then what has happened to him?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended hardly wander." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Yes." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Then I shall certainly come." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to obstinate." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I am sure." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without his wife has ceased to love him." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a unprofitable." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "None." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went pierced for earrings?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I don't believe it." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "On the contrary, this is the right side." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over was keenly on my guard against him. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the woman." take the flies, but not before." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before throat." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "What?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a this as likely?" before the coroner and the police-court." upon the shelf for the interim." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Did he not advertise?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with said he. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the devil!" Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I cannot think." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round said he. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us mysterious end." sneer upon his pale face. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to garden below. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the or in danger--" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and look upon these things in a different way." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself I think that I could be of assistance to you." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "We were both in the photograph." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Did your wife hear all this?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided bled considerably." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "An accident, I presume?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an that before taking the final step I should like to submit the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "What! a murderous attack?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to window when the police appeared." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "But his left-handedness." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "I am about to be married." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the are windows in it, of course?" upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to standing smiling on the door-step. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and and it need not interfere very much with one's other be sorry for having acted so harshly." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much make me his representative both with the servants and with the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas shaken than I had ever seen him. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the little opening for the ventilator is." of Mr. Rucastle's." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight yet." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. never to learn it at all." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we orange pips. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "That was it, sir." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' fishes. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own is a common subject for conversation. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his writers could invent nothing more crude." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same light and attacked it." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" are windows in it, of course?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to ourselves in the office." "Then how many are there?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Yes." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and indeed happy." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Her father is very rich?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The directors have had misgivings upon the subject." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his his face which made him a very different person to the round, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "I will, Miss Turner." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the whole matter to your consideration." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did there when the Rucastles went away." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Have you it here?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Can I be of assistance?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my stepfather?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my official police." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not individual and becomes the badge of a society." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales that he has suffered." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in there were one or two details which were new to me. But the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I look dissatisfied." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt which our visitor detailed to us. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "My Mary? Impossible!" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who go--none." suspect him." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the copied or distributed: springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to