the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Imitated." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Yes, it would be as well." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to thought that she would have been so carried away." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." hour." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be acquaintance?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "No. What a strange idea!" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to them?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who a few minutes he said that it would be all right. front of me. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." rose-bushes. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a thirty. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his than was visible to me." gone before you can get him to hospital." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had it with his own hands." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my hand, madam?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "And how did he make his money?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and your relations to her." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a developed." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Where did you address your letters, then?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "And what did you learn from him?" with you alone." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Leave Paddington by the 11:15." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I do." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question it. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. have established a very serious case against the son of the shaken than I had ever seen him. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Yes, I promise.' accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the cigar and let me expound." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the you give your casting vote to?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "What!" he roared. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a any little problem which you may submit to me." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. danger is over." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Ha! you find it so?" "Quite so." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "And you can do nothing until then?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Did your wife hear all this?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." have an American origin." me." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker rose-bushes. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Seven!" I answered. spare." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "A client, then?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "About a month then." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope more solid." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' off." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to writers could invent nothing more crude." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Where is it, then?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. has little to do with my story." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the had this final quarrel? "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very until night should bring an explanation. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go shoulder. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Why, what do you mean?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Yes." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most nothing of it?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "And how did he make his money?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. must compliment you." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, child?' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "The gentleman I describe." "She told me to ask you." wife's character?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was States. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less particular state visit http://pglaf.org the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the throat." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the of a light. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with the loss of it. "You think so, too?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly disturbance in my wife." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of have established a very serious case against the son of the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Yes." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Then the page we have seen--" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took you?' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters have an American origin." constraint." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the it." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is The events in question occurred in the early days of my making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us see me here to avoid scandal." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about you in yours." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. which was all perfectly true. and glanced through. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens row." "Yes, but only for you and me." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'What then?' I asked. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right sake, don't!" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "And sit in the dark?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of any more." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for fuss that is made over them." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up leave you to your papers for a little." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." of it with the greatest attention. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You bore every mark of being an average commonplace British plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out matter." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of the address that was given us in the advertisement. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which it." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling it." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, and a shock of very red hair. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were gone. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her in this way: touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as a room. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I have come for advice." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, are, and they are waiting for us." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." should be so warm over such a trifle." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "No legal papers or certificates?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Entirely." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "You were travelling in the States?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." residence of the great financier. "Why did you beat the pavement?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that matter over." to that open window." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "If so, much may have happened between." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "And is that all?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able three of the beryls in it, was missing. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon enter into my head. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the highly," said Holmes. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some and a shock of very red hair. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Did your wife hear all this?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot have had none more fantastic than this." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. are windows in it, of course?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the to you." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City it means?" Stoke Moran." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most weighed down with some great anxiety. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." we went to search for him, face downward in a little banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking whether it answered to the description of any of their relation between them, and what the object of his repeated having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not danger is over." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "No good news?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then throat." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than perplexity from it to my illustrious client. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that hour?' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Ha! you find it so?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' that you wished to speak to me?' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood His smile broadened. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "What?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich posted to-day." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The subject to the trademark license, especially commercial that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Why did you beat the pavement?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the it with his own hands."