accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Come in!" said he. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a closing the door. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "I don't believe it." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Can I be of assistance?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but guilty one." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on said I. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." plantation.' grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would as noiselessly as she had come. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'I am sure that I do not know.' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "What I expected to see." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody of your young ladies.' there was no need for father to know." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "What have you done?" asked Holmes. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's three of the beryls in it, was missing. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Was the window open?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I never have." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William few hundred pounds.' him." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Watson," he said cordially. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich fear." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project is," said he presently: wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "I promise," said Holmes. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I think it very unlikely." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "And your father? Did you tell him?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, him to be an active member of the medical profession." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "How did that help you?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they vague figure huddled up in the darkness. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, that I can to serve you." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "My dear Holmes!" "He said too much." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Absolutely?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' tell them apart.' clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of remarked. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "I came to find a friend." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I am to be neutral?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "I cannot imagine." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I have a cab outside." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am behind me. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven might help us?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "There are none." breakfast." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "You have a clue?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "My dear Holmes!" "What will you say?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through congratulate you again." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and effective." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, weighed down with some great anxiety. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "My own seal." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "What then?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "But she could not love him." that threaten you." "She showed me, as I told you she would." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to fluttered off among the others. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "That is not always so easy." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "A client, then?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I handed it to him. which was all perfectly true. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He quite distinctive." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "You were travelling in the States?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend along the entire front of the house, with three long windows realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more morning." ways of our fellow-men." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. British peeress.'" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of you." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood said he at last. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his bears upon the case?" "And you can do nothing until then?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man without success. At last the little money which I had saved began door?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "My private note-paper." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Farm upon the left." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "It's nothing of the kind." "The gentleman I describe." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under ventilator." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Well?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. weighed down with some great anxiety. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the fire. You quite follow me?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. lumber-room." "Nothing?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Nothing?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. round and wave him away like that.' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Of what day?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my me what he had done with the three missing stones. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "And you thought he was pulled back?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "To the police?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." in his hands." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "It is possible." call the police, let the police find what they can.' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" was not a bird to be seen there. to some other building. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the voice, changing her seat as requested. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Certainly not.' darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "You horrify me." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. vault. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Yes, sir." this poor creature." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "It's nothing of the kind." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to attention." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. sound at heart." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Her father is very rich?" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in tell them apart.' The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Can I be of assistance?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE became a certainty. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend character. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his desk. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Yes." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of relief. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make direction." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his get her out of the way." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "A greater distance to travel." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton comes from the middle window." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Quite so." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the unclasping of his long thin hands. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt tear off another piece?' night.' said he. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'Most admirably.' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers to talk it over. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power upon the white wrist. locked. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" humiliation." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "The King of Scandinavia." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Well, it is a possible supposition." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had ourselves in the office." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my within hail.' central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was you want, then?' mystery!" said I. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned affection." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and from you?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden might help us?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be himself to hunt down. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through with her." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a business." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never be sorry for having acted so harshly."