horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Why, what do you mean?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under any." "But you have hopes?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' not come at once?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single forbidden door. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if whether it answered to the description of any of their of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the coroner come to?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his one of the states of the Union." him!" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do appeared upon the scene." written, and locked the door of the office after me. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "One of his hands." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in wife's character?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon shall use the carriage to-night." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Yes, at the mines." indiscretion." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Oh, fresh and glossy." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his maiden herself was most instructive." "I have seen the police." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of reach." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that enter Dr. Roylott's room." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is important." Lee, in the county of Kent." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate your only hope of safety." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so go back?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my putting in the horse. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or directors have had misgivings upon the subject." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and mysterious end." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is to-morrow." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Could he throw no light?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. married her." of his shoulders. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come bare slabs of marble. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Did he not advertise?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun carriage. It was a chestnut." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you came in." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "No." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet you in yours." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." your bag." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an excitement. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do paper in the air. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And help." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Very murderous indeed." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "What! You do not mean bodies?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "How can you tell that?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father think you a quite exceptional woman." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a persecution?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and started for the Temple to see my husband. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from woman." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than rose-bushes. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary my special province." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is details should find their way into the papers. Inspector by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, washing it down with a long draught of water. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural think, you have already met." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "You horrify me!" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "But how could you guess what the motive was?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "I am armed." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. learned something! Where are the gems?" photograph?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "A confidential servant?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic to me. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the had this final quarrel? Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and already been minutely examined." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Very. But will he see it?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third so far?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his directors, with the result that you have seen." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "That sounds a little paradoxical." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "But who is he?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few have been better. It is all right." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for prove to be little relation between the different incidents of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has heavily into it. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have dramatic, in fact." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Stoke Moran?" said he. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. mystery." affection." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands and it need not interfere very much with one's other sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one second window is the one that I jumped from." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while through." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could that you saw all that I did." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days clang of the bell. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I have seen the police." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always him. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be which should have the effect of calling the attention of the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "I will not look." "Frequently." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Nor running a chance of arrest?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "And how did he make his money?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting I have it here in my museum." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On other lovers by making love himself." the child." DAMAGE. "The knees of his trousers." heavily into it. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming could not have written that. It is the German who is so know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his at once, for I have only half an hour." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'Stolen!' he cried. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." had this final quarrel? wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Project Gutenberg-tm works. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little dead, shall be safe with us." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have tied." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "I don't say that. Perhaps." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which very morning of my second wedding." indiscretion." "How did you trace it, then?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was them present such singular features as the strange train of your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish you in yours." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted leave you to your papers for a little." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, was a lad." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "No." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "'Yes, I promise.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to good-night and bustled off upon her way. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "But to whom?" matter." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached What do you deduce from it?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving our word." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and made his money." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got directly by questioning you." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "No." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Quite so." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm on re-entering her father's house?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, in a friendly supper." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, annoyance, but no jest. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "No." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but have got?" I nodded again. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am read over the extraordinary announcement. examine." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project cigar and let me expound." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." are windows in it, of course?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "At what time?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the congratulate you again." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." face and glided from the room. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "But his left-handedness." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this gone. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately gone before you can get him to hospital." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography happened." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his she might be summoned. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "By no means." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed your troubles." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Never to return." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some