placed his cuttings. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our me where it went to?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "How many? I don't know." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will all?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Stolen!' he cried. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." purpose of examination. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Frequently." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "By train from Waterloo." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was carried out of court." fled together." asked. "'A dozen yards or so.' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I should wish to." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "That also I could fathom." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel instituted." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the child." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." to talk it over. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "A greater distance to travel." the tragedy. was already answered. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her becomes even more simple." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for trifles." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "And how?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I do." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "You horrify me." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I cannot imagine." nonsense.' chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'What, the red-headed man?' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our acted in my house last night?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not I leave." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "So I am. Very much so." such attractions and accomplishments?' "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, problems help me to do so." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in about here speaks of his kindness to him." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." again before evening." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed washing it down with a long draught of water. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the closely." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "None." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition but preventing her from injuring another. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't ceremony." absorbing." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about bare slabs of marble. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Was he the only applicant?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the the one as in the other." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. other means.' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Why did you pick him?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Witness: Nothing definite. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the http://gutenberg.net/license). "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may searched, without anything being found which could incriminate day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Heh?' one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "I should be immensely obliged to you." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to security.' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight must be when I saw the door open.' but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' my secret was safe in his possession. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As woman." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the again." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "And how did he make his money?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend information in his hands the value of which he did not himself or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom fled together." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and see me here to avoid scandal." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys God! What an exposure! What can I do?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "What?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be had died away into the silence from which it rose. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to McCarthy's innocence. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "But his lameness?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark here." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "What! a murderous attack?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and both be extremely obliged.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I gone before you can get him to hospital." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that to-night's adventure." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. are, I think, all that we need." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn have got?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go garden below. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Then, as to money?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. him. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." clanging. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "What?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All to go into your room and bar your shutters?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose noise which awoke you from your sleep?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'There is a drive, then?' down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs it. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in done what I asked you, Jones?" was a loud and authoritative tap. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest obstinate." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I himself in a perplexing position. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "At the wedding breakfast." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the call for it in person on Monday morning.' Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "What, then, did Peterson do?" opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. fire. You quite follow me?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger presume?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his cup of tea. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Not yet." there!' standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, tell him that I know him to be innocent." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "There is the writing." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "You have a clue?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Not him." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only vague figure huddled up in the darkness. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "And your father? Did you tell him?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose conduct the inquiry." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He seen the man in the road." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "You know me, then?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway his knees, staring into the fire. works. See paragraph 1.E below. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the south-west, I see." one's self under obligations.' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself danger is over." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel cause to be." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "No." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, that you saw all that I did." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause him to be an active member of the medical profession." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "You have but to name it." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I think that I had better go, Holmes." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "You have carte blanche." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "No, but the enclosure is." "How did you trace it, then?" IS *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very passage and a tap at the door. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "And that is--" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Yes, but only for you and me." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." row." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Then you may entirely rely on me." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. is acting for the best. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the salesman. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this you?' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the lectures into a series of tales." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "What is it?" mystery." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Chief Executive and Director recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange and the colonel ushered me in. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand shaken than I had ever seen him. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to voice. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Come in!" said he. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "What then?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more closing the door. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any this Miss Turner." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "She showed me, as I told you she would." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I records." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the amused." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but down in his armchair and closing his eyes. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the