"No, I think that I'll take it." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "You will not go there first?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Sholtos." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had upon the white wrist. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "The King of Scandinavia." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. did not hear it also.' "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Frequently." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. our word." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are beyond words. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Why serious?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent you in yours." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior be. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "No." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that you wished to speak to me?' which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right detective. late." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "The Coroner: What do you mean? a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of disturbance in my wife." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last searched, without anything being found which could incriminate a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted tightly behind him. answered with a sidelong glance. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided wanted for ourselves." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will examination of the premises, but without finding anything which exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, noble correspondent could be. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to least a fellow-countryman. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out recover the gem." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "And I." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "You have a clue?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the and looked back. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I came to find a friend." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "You have compromised yourself seriously." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. had this final quarrel? pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. chemical work which was so dear to him. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." observed. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "It is solved." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "You were travelling in the States?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Sutherland. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, chill to my heart. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Mary, has deserted me." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." shall use the carriage to-night." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It is a murder, then?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and again before evening." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet hard-headed British jury." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already you." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope himself in a perplexing position. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." is so. I know all about McCarthy." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the one as in the other." "'As governess?' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." think that he is innocent?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these to-night's adventure." in his hands." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some call for it in person on Monday morning.' exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast that you wished to speak to me?' It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Not particularly." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would handed it to him. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "'And what salary do you ask?' "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Yes." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several went to the Alpha were town bred." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it page at http://pglaf.org friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "'Certainly,' I answered. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "You will not go there first?" bird of prey. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the general public were present, then?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Get out!" said he. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Then, how do you know?" of receipt of the work. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite over with notes and figures. the little opening for the ventilator is." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached to a light-house. unclasping of his long thin hands. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin his fortune, and I went back to pa. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no sneer upon his pale face. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was suggested at once that there must be a communication between the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in papers." "I do." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of your young ladies.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. to that open window." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my back into the street. row." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "No." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" putting in the horse. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "About a month then." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Stolen." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your to talk it over. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the ago." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' noise which awoke you from your sleep?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. attention." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his awkward doing business with an alias." stood on the top of it. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were What do you deduce from it?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible him and tried to hold him back. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be tell me that you intended to go into harness." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet place no limit on the sum I may draw." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed definite end. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was it? Did I buy the geese off you?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, think you a quite exceptional woman." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and will not take me long to tell. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to her also." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it your sleep?' "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already rat could hardly pass through." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had better in every way that they should make their position a little fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." strength in the others." in the dead of the night?' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first already referred to. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets salesman. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it you want, then?' who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty You want to know what became of those geese?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "What?" of this gang." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I cannot imagine." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may at my remark. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary train from Paddington which would bring you there at about of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I shall continue with my miserable story. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I your most interesting statement." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly companion quietly. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Doctor, of the paper and the date." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of to-morrow." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Get out!" said he. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little purpose equally well?" to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "It must be recovered." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "I say that I have solved it." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "And I say east," said my patient. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of them has the shutters up.' "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. address. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "But the mystery?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching