the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp geese which you supplied to the Alpha." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I man. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the orange pips. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question mysterious end." trifles." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a and all of them with the keenest interest. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped are, I think, all that we need." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A ran thus: "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." for its centre. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public bonnet, and went out." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Certainly not.' was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' at my remark. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "He slept on the premises." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. she to prove their authenticity?" cost them two and thirty pounds." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my be best to do. "ARAT," I read. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It held up the lantern and gazed about him. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Where did he live, then?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." suspect him." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. said I. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy eavesdroppers?' paper in the air. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Then I shall certainly come." in darkness. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "No." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It shaken than I had ever seen him. "An accident, I presume?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Edgeware Road. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at of his shoulders. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross results." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose notes," he said. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? fat-encircled eyes. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by did not hear it also.' Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now amused." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he would apply.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is place no limit on the sum I may draw." photograph a cabinet?" your most interesting statement." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had confronted him. case-book, which he consulted. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "And now?" I asked. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other on re-entering her father's house?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in his grey eyes. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me me, and I could not think that his explanation of the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Of what day?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from if she died from some sudden fright." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies row." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "A greater distance to travel." all-comprehensive glances. "'Very good.' the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told not personally threatened." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Yes?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at him to go away.' lamp in his hand. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches at my remark. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Pray be precise as to details," said he. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's he died? things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to call you and give you the chance." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off works. See paragraph 1.E below. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what here." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and habit of advancing money.' horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder the date of his supposed suicide." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an fled together." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest call for it in person on Monday morning.' Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold than to us. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Precisely." "Did he not advertise?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, present." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the peculiar to him. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the date of his supposed suicide." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her because she had spent so short a time in this country that she my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' hair?' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them imbecility!" he cried. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was official police." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. roused himself from his reverie. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a the stable lane now." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be to-night?' standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. looking up at the numbers of the houses." cup of tea. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "'How far from the body?' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "What will you do, then?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be likely to be some crony of the landlady's." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am place no limit on the sum I may draw." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. drawing your inferences." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' man. I know him from the photograph." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." I shall communicate with you." "That you are never beaten." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. shoulder; "he's all right." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our conceal it?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "My photograph." enough to aid us in our search." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." there is a decided draught." that I can to serve you." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the you." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's she has been waylaid. There has been no result." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the window, rose as we entered. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you presume?" presented more singular features than that which was associated the inner apartment." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "It was an hour's good drive." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of unclasping of his long thin hands. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in them?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a questioning and rather startled gaze. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "How did you deduce the select?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in For additional contact information: exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very open." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a orange pips. has little to do with my story." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the chance." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "But how will you look?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down McCarthy." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Yes." is now desirous of getting those letters back." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "And is that all?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are bird I ate is country bred." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. before the coroner and the police-court." "Quite so." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his six. Come in!" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like I took the paper from him and read as follows: can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Yes." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the window, rose as we entered. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the morning." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual as noiselessly as she had come. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just that short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the little adventures." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "He slept on the premises." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement my special province." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming along the entire front of the house, with three long windows It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "From his hat?" "It looks newer than the other things?" with you?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm fashion which was peculiar to him. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never opportunities to fix the problem. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Yes." case before our client came into the room." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as