explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "In the cells." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable digesting their breakfasts at home." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual these bleak autumnal evenings." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "A client, then?" of Fenchurch Street." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any him!" "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "But to whom?" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Yes, from Horsham." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that generous with you in money matters.' tell them apart.' really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I beg pardon." "Was the window open?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. burst out into a roar of laughter. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Entirely." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled row." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has gigantic client. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her murdered man." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were in the port of London." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "And how did he make his money?" breakfast." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing strength of mind to control. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "I was mad--insane." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at noise which awoke you from your sleep?" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all drove away. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Then the page we have seen--" drawing your inferences." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I beg pardon." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in appeared upon the scene." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "He disappeared so suddenly." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "My Mary? Impossible!" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the with you alone." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "We must have a cab." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "In answer to an advertisement." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Imitated." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the grasp, he hurried from the room. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Get out!" said he. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "My dear Holmes!" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "She told me to ask you." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. John Swain, of St. Augustine. than to us. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had felt the room to be a little close.' attention." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in lumber-room." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your your own bird, so if you wish--" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a next day. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had definite end. "'I have already given you my word.' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Then I do not see the point." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Yes." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly gone. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed promised to bring home. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if and a shock of very red hair. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. formed some opinion?" fire. You quite follow me?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an do." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Then you may be so with me." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "I see many objections to any such theory." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his interested in these little problems, and since you are good fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" taking in every detail of the apartment. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a but preventing her from injuring another. seven miles from Eyford Station.' estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the bottom.' must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Pray do so." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "By all means." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some know that the truth is known." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as disappearance of these gems?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "The Coroner: What do you mean? the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point room. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life For additional contact information: tell me that you intended to go into harness." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said It was close upon four before the door opened, and a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "What have you done?" asked Holmes. London for the present?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "This concluded the examination of the witness." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "It is to him that this trophy belongs." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the his face. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Ha! you find it so?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the loss of it. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Holmes' room. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the unclasping of his long thin hands. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "What can you not understand?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the looking up at the numbers of the houses." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do detained." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Watson," he said cordially. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little to tackle the facts." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Will you bet, then?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, before the coroner and the police-court." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "You horrify me." disappearance of these gems?" gbnewby@pglaf.org about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still before, for it was considerably after midnight. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "I say that I have solved it." had formerly been in part my own. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And how did he make his money?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "That you are never beaten." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "An accident, I presume?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper possible that we could bring him back to her? light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover maiden herself was most instructive." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. noble correspondent could be. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would question. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and forebodings. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, would apply.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "What will you do, then?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We mystery!" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in attention." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I have solved it." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with with her." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Dirty?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only matter." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'Yes, I promise.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Certainly." "'In my own bureau.' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical one's self under obligations.' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at been deceived." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "And what then?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon to-night." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," golden eyeglasses. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and the whole place is in a blaze." "She told me to ask you." "'I have already given you my word.' end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Quite so. She has her freedom." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Precisely." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and man. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his to-night?" I asked. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "And you can do nothing until then?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his she might be summoned. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a placed his cuttings. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Texas, I think." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no strength." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his unprecedented a position." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. the station." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she within hail.' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "When did she vanish, then?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when lids now and glanced across at his visitor. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Then what has happened to him?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big and the colonel ushered me in. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we the house with me." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "No, finished." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "You have compromised yourself seriously." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with not, dad?" she asked. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary said he at last. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of absorbing." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, I shall communicate with you." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "But how?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback cost them two and thirty pounds." already referred to. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "That is possible." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'No, I know no one in these parts.' particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite been lifted and conveyed somewhere." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can