"But I have heard all that you have heard." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Well?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as golden eyeglasses. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been gentleman's clothes. sneer upon his pale face. happened." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss few hundred pounds.' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious experiences." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the coronet in his hands?" "'I have already given you my word.' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." even of instruction." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your do." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that presented more singular features than that which was associated see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Eh? What was that?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle was a perfect sample of the class. directors, with the result that you have seen." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "And who is her maid?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "The knees of his trousers." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then suddenly upon us." neither fascinating nor artistic." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the good for you to do.' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "You did not overhear what they said?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Yes." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "'Then let me do so?' got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Yes. He waved his hands." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, records." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "A confidential servant?" back to my heart. round and wave him away like that.' case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Nothing?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Nearly eleven." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "No bad?" the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' way: and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot certainly not very gracious." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I don't say that. Perhaps." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news never came back." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Did your wife hear all this?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Perhaps I have." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon habit of advancing money.' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them I leave." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been towards the blaze. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'It is locked up,' I answered. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with for securing the situation." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our persecution?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of upon a handsome competence. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon better in every way that they should make their position a little glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" how narrow had been my escape. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and you, my dear young lady?' could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the stable lane now." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "But it has twice been burgled." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a shadow pass over his face as I spoke. relief. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I yourselves in at night?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, will not take me long to tell. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what status with the IRS. must compliment you." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See washing it down with a long draught of water. be sorry for having acted so harshly." the matter." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their During two years I have had three consultations and one small pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his other, as fresh and trim as possible. client, rising. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and friends, not even his own brother. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and neither fascinating nor artistic." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Project Gutenberg-tm works. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." returned to France?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO intimate personal affairs in this public manner." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "But she could not love him." "To an English lawyer named Norton." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Then how many are there?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally as this. Pray let me have the details." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what brought there to personate someone, and the real person is time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached was used.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of look dissatisfied." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the friend's singular character. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They was shining brightly. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR at my own good fortune. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the thirty. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way before the coroner and the police-court." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Well, some hundreds of times." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that a very grave face. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got in this way: "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "I cannot as yet see any connection." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were client, rising. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these and the whole place is in a blaze." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It matter." exactly what you advise." outside." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" that "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the asked with his eyes open. "Then how many are there?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" at a side door. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by writing, and yet I know it well." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." less than 26s. 4d. narrative." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman you." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Then I can wait in the next room." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for You can understand that this register and diary may implicate down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Pray let us have it, for all that." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as has little to do with my story." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "That sounds a little paradoxical." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a here." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Where is it, then?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is will find little credit to be gained out of this case." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how bird of prey. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated ourselves in the office." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one garden below. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "What is it?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'How far from the body?' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the presume?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have over his head with a sweet womanly caress. him." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "'It is locked up,' I answered. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. held up the lantern and gazed about him. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned man. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "But you would not advise me to refuse?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously this Miss Turner." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a affair. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual shaken than I had ever seen him. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "'Certainly,' I answered. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Very truly yours, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the