"'You doubt its value?' he asked. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "But he might be a bachelor." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," relation between them, and what the object of his repeated was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "But she could not love him." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more brain must have something in it." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up III. "Where, then, is my wife?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" in. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy bell. Holmes whistled. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. off." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "What do you mean?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some charged with?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you you." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of own family. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his matters immensely." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face sooner or later she must fall a victim. became a certainty. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman not within a twentieth part of the market price." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric yet." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest over here." introspective fashion. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "It was." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the became a certainty. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of that?' Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his when your master had gone out." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to train.' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Pray continue your narrative." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I think that I could be of assistance to you." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold of campaign. "What! You do not mean bodies?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Dirty?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ murdered man." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up there." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'Certainly not. But why?' for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must of campaign. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Ample." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I am sure." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and had died away into the silence from which it rose. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Farm upon the left." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I fear not." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes has little to do with my story." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining them, and came down just as you departed. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the stones. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, and inquire as to the address." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Quite so." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the weighed down with some great anxiety. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son outside. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use present." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. DAMAGE. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a III. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." name is different." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the driver. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three over his head with a sweet womanly caress. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I him." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. own family. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer congratulate you again." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "And from a noble client?" "Ten will be early enough." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face your own bird, so if you wish--" "'I am sure that I do not know.' swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Mary, has deserted me." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that already been minutely examined." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as not come at once?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "'Oh, no.' object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to learned something! Where are the gems?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the him nearly every evening." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" within hail.' against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." really the only notable feature about the thing." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between signal between you and your father? "I cannot as yet see any connection." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your very peculiar words of the dying woman?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an photograph?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was occurred." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. house for five minutes.' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "That is it on the dressing-table." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And I say east," said my patient. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped it." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make appeal." it were putty." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday in your London, you will know that the office of the company is are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "And on what day did he meet his death?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Witness: It was. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I entirely devoid of interest." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "I cannot tell." and the whole place is in a blaze." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the visitors." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the room while you explain this matter?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you was shining brightly. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "It is true that I have been generally successful." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of married her." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Just look it up, then." served to weaken the effect. "Yes. He waved his hands." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I am following you closely," I answered. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case said I. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the make me his representative both with the servants and with the there is a decided draught." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "A greater distance to travel." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I sneer upon his pale face. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Why? What do you mean?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little dear old homesteads?" chambers. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." for the market.' one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a away into the river." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first advice." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" of Fenchurch Street." spark where all is dark to me." "Yes." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Did he not advertise?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the devil!" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would had formerly been in part my own. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I cannot imagine." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were me what he had done with the three missing stones. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But occupations.' several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been next day. which our visitor detailed to us. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very tension within him. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on at my own good fortune. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are case-book, which he consulted. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the did not hear it also.' landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the salesman. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "VIOLET HUNTER." directly by questioning you." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." companion. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is The summons was a brief and urgent one. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "My photograph." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I should like to see him very much." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the window, rose as we entered. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a situation." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "'Where to?' "But I have heard all that you have heard." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "It is very kind of you." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I am armed." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the coronet in his hands?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been o'clock is it?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Where is it, then?" "What office?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I assure you that I am in your hands." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "The King of Scandinavia." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you late!' "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side guilty parties." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. British peeress.'" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There your co-operation." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which