that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Street. certainly not very gracious." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "And now?" He raised his hand. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Always." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I cannot tell." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to your own bird, so if you wish--" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." shoulder. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no goes." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are of." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." ventilator." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "And I." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This me upon any point which I do not make clear." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." photograph?" even of instruction." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the leave you to your papers for a little." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate his face. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the when you have done it." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, results." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "You have it, sir, just as it happened." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of you came in." "I shall be delighted." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. promised to bring home. "Very much so." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "She showed me, as I told you she would." "How did he come?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the nursery. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I saw her in conversation with her maid." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. this unhappy family?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "'Ten to two.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "In what way?" asked Holmes. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must writers could invent nothing more crude." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "No. What a strange idea!" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Thank you. Pray proceed." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Witness: Nothing definite. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "You have compromised yourself seriously." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the you in your example." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "That's no good." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned conversation I have gathered that they have been married about about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I during which he might have communicated with his friend the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Precisely." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? standing smiling on the door-step. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "It is very clear." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," carried out of court." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS shall use the carriage to-night." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," success. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually past. ourselves in the office." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Cross for the Continent." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about returned to France?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Did you observe the colour?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the British peeress.'" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Pray be precise as to details," said he. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Always." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It was an hour's good drive." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be to-night's adventure." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "At what time?" trifles." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" with you?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which silent! Oh, he will be silent!' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, distinguish the words: said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Not I." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, have I gained?" simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "What! Had he lost his wife?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so hurried by. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "What then?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." province." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one away to you." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first you came in." stood on the top of it. that he has suffered." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "May I see it?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Nothing." there in twenty minutes." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Where did he live, then?" to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "And is that all?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps your room." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the helping a boy to put up the shutters. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary are, and they are waiting for us." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we room. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. constraint." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white about here speaks of his kindness to him." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake it with his own hands." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And leave your case unfinished?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they who was a member of your goose club." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I sake, don't!" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, closely." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "From his hat?" to his chemical studies. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over husband's writing, madam." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" morning." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing me." begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Have you her photograph?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "They are typewritten," I remarked. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'No, I know no one in these parts.' all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address is acting for the best. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "But not more so than I to find you." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I definite end. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Then I can wait in the next room." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your shall not find me ungrateful." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the room while you explain this matter?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "It is possible." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social that I am arrested." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "The Coroner: What do you mean? third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him wedding?" I shall communicate with you." It may be so in this case, also." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "No, I think that I'll take it." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe certainly not very gracious." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "That was it, sir." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their lost nothing by them." enough to aid us in our search." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, hour?' "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. writers could invent nothing more crude." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the who was a member of your goose club." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an points in connection with it which never have been, and probably abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice your co-operation." what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very opened the door, and slipped through. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months my special province." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Well, it is a possible supposition." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Eyford." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to knowledge of the world." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "None. Neville wrote those words." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your your equipment. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" hour?' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" footfalls from the street. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "None. Neville wrote those words." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a For additional contact information: "We have tried and failed." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress bears upon the case?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just keep the flames under. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. it means?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "'Certainly not.' "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the coronet in his hands?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Not in the least." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My