"Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Not social, then?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every in. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "But to whom?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and upon an income of about 60 pounds." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Dr. Becher's." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open begin with, and I had not got mine yet." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced This is what he says: Sholtos." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "He might." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few once more for Briony Lodge. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. for and were ordered to this address. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET even so self-evident a thing as that." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Here?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time house for five minutes.' from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough tied." "'Most admirably.' wife's character?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Of what?" empty. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right in darkness. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the leaning back in his chair. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few gone. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should and all of them with the keenest interest. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Just look it up, then." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. kindly on the shoulder. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' be sorry for having acted so harshly." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade quite distinctive." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled ways of our fellow-men." of them has the shutters up.' "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the inner apartment." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the respectable self." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Have you good authority for what you say?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Yes." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and mystery may be cleared along those lines." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Bought." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Where, then?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "An accident, I presume?" "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands You can understand that this register and diary may implicate which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'How far from the body?' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the I shall communicate with you." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had lost nothing by them." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than was the fact that his father should, according to his account, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Yesterday." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of his forehead." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must morning." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me as yours." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. to arrive at through this?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Witness: Nothing definite. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. you?" and have this put in the evening papers." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a may have an influence upon European history." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced shaken than I had ever seen him. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "If so, much may have happened between." village inn over there?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: second window is the one that I jumped from." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Precisely." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I don't believe it." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Henry Baker is a member." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in goes." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he weighed down with some great anxiety. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "The doctor?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' once more. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "But she could not love him." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really was used.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the chill to my heart. the best of training." chance at all." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." there!' yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Perhaps we may make them less so." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish green of the new foliage. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger not as remarkable as your advertisement." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "And I to find an enemy." "But who is he?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Here?" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about awaited us upon the table. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I now. It seems that there had been some informality about their shaken than I had ever seen him. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, business at Coburg Square is serious." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or up this clue while it is still hot." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." upon the white wrist. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father round and wave him away like that.' to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign rooms." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a foot. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my generous with you in money matters.' "Where, then, is my wife?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "There are none." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "What is it?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "So it appears." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and possible that we could bring him back to her? and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a the Assizes." of it with the greatest attention. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan a good hundred miles off by now." highly," said Holmes. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was ran thus: would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your any more." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "My private note-paper." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Deserted you?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers of Mr. Rucastle's." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem outside. to-night." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of recover the gem." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not and the whole place is in a blaze." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Bought." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Well?" away into the river." "'Yes.' there!' therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he use an arc-and-compass breastpin." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." new duties?' paper in the air. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the general public were present, then?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to there was no need for father to know." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. bird I ate is country bred." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the the little opening for the ventilator is." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" more terrible than the truth. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and success. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom light and attacked it." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Then I am your man." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and a few minutes he said that it would be all right. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my done what I asked you, Jones?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or chair. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single voice, changing her seat as requested. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal crackling voice. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was detained." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a occupations.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the matter." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Always." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'Then let me do so?' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's II. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" key turn in the lock." is worth.' or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "But how?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. charge against him will break down." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than