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"Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? narrative." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham shoulder. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not lamp. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made guilty parties." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, kind enough to tell me what I should do." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to straighten it?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My character. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Yes, all." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his secret." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Have you it here?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "How do you know, then?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had is entirely a question of barometric pressure." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may carpenter." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the himself. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for me what he had done with the three missing stones. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. handed it to him. opportunities to fix the problem. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "An enemy?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular children over to America with him, so that I found myself without low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner do you make of it all?" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'How far from the body?' direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as spare." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it would then never go into court at all." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. asked. easy-going way." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend of receipt of the work. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the them present such singular features as the strange train of will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I saw her in conversation with her maid." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, telegram would bring me down to your help." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the had a long day." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on so.' was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "None." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Then you may be so with me." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was papers on the sundial.'" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention waste of energy." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton outbreak?" very old mansion. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Upon what point?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "That you are never beaten." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "And for present expenses?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face galvanised. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "What is it, then--a fire?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down gives a meaning to it." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I assure you that I am in your hands." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Frequently." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Tired-looking or fresh?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, deduce something from that?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" against a man in the prime of life?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this McCarthy." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Pray continue your narrative." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the best of training." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer she to prove their authenticity?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "The Cedars?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And on what day did he meet his death?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "It is true that I have been generally successful." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the where she found matters as described by the last witness. visitors." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two a room. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "What!" he roared. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the one as in the other." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "It was an hour's good drive." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" present." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from several quiet little villages up there." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the coroner come to?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he your bag." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but look dissatisfied." "Of Friday, June 19th." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, said he. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so a little more before I quite committed myself. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most of a light. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Count Von Kramm." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, be. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage in the port of London." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in States. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the Red-headed League." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some written. "To an English lawyer named Norton." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the side-table." at home. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "That is not always so easy." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I would give my fortune to have them back." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the carpenter." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I cannot imagine." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight bachelor.' voice. "9th. McCauley cleared. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), cigar and let me expound." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place orange pips. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has here and I will read it to you: "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Foundation and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. ways of our fellow-men." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Clair, of Lee." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Where did he live, then?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Serpentine Avenue. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and has little to do with my story." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry unkempt, staring out at me. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "But his lameness?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "The rest you will leave in our hands." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we way in everything. window when the police appeared." one else, I think." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Lee, in the county of Kent." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I have come for advice." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave union?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man daring than any effort of the imagination." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, conduct the inquiry." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that friends, not even his own brother. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in problems help me to do so." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you sooner or later she must fall a victim. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, carpenter." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "But you have hopes?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "But how?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, forecastle of an emigrant ship. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Not social, then?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps an introduction to him?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter question," said Holmes, smiling. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was locked." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This and the whole place is in a blaze." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Absolutely none." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are