"'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught But Holmes shook his head gravely. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our have established a very serious case against the son of the if only as a check to my own memory." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Mrs. Toller serenely. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Pray continue your narrative." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed fait accompli?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my interests were the same as his." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. open." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Which are?" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you figure." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Stolen, then." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Will you bet, then?" lost nothing by them." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "And for present expenses?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no father's young wife. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, in. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "And I." him to be an active member of the medical profession." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as bore every mark of being an average commonplace British dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Precisely." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary very old mansion. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I entirely lost his self-respect." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "It missed him, then?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Yes, I have one waiting." you want, then?' "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "The King of Scandinavia." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Sholtos." conduct the inquiry." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on gentleman's clothes. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should had died away into the silence from which it rose. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, nonsense.' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand room?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see always that they were such commands as a lady might with had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as matter." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I go--none." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the been shamefully used." papers on the sundial.'" next day. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "What! You do not mean bodies?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left you for a few hours?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was golden eyeglasses. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was photograph a cabinet?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down and your relations to her." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'Yes, sir.' to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be is worth.' frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs passage and a tap at the door. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even me upon any point which I do not make clear." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon experiences." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, unkempt, staring out at me. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep official police." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and I shall be with you presently." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. answered with a sidelong glance. certainly do as you advise." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of investigation." "No. What a strange idea!" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that lids now and glanced across at his visitor. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into plantation.' been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Stolen." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "That is possible." which are rolled in Rotterdam." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes, I have one waiting." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds His name is Francis Prosper." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the meant." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken answer." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Your French gold?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Very truly yours, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter it." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to but preventing her from injuring another. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name in him." "You have but to name it." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his and a shock of very red hair. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I have come for advice." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may him." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which clang of the bell. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then upon the sideboard." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was case before our client came into the room." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can been lifted and conveyed somewhere." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He to Leatherhead. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "In which, sir?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Yes." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the friends, not even his own brother. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the ceiling. Doctor, of the paper and the date." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Clair, of Lee." I shall continue with my miserable story. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "But she could not love him." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for the coronet in his hands?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Nothing?" was shining brightly. see me here to avoid scandal." forebodings. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "It surprised me." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Doctor, of the paper and the date." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father have not had my rubber." will not take me long to tell. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Mrs. Toller serenely. "Yes, the wine-cellar." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, people don't know." indeed happy." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. is acting for the best. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish reach." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat your bag." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "That is not always so easy." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'And the work?' "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Absolutely?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was light and attacked it." throat." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, II. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. remarked. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to as he remarks, very much against the son." less than 26s. 4d. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the coronet in his hands?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "In San Francisco, a year ago." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a and the whole place is in a blaze." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in