been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Yes." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I have a cab outside." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing jewels which you have stolen?' lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the conduct the inquiry." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself new acquaintance to Baker Street. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the all that?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "But what is it you wish?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I have seen the police." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Was your sister dressed?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you success. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of were wasted." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind straighten it?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "'Yes, I promise.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "No more words. Get out!" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Nothing." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who It may be so in this case, also." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Watson," he said cordially. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman eat it." a suggestive one." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And into the room. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Yes, it was twisted." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the tragedy. were unconscious?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when village inn over there?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Certainly." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" his wife has ceased to love him." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Yes?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Then I shall certainly come." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard begun to whiten, even as mine has." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Why, it's a dummy," said he. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not and looked back. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "What can you not understand?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped sofa. This way, please!" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us cost them two and thirty pounds." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to him and tried to hold him back. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the without a word or a look. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Chief Executive and Director vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Eyford." believe that I should never have any practice at all. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' said I. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the and looked back. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide sound at heart." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. distinguish the words: again, where I was soon asleep. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there morning." call the police, let the police find what they can.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, prepare for the new role I have to play." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and goes." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He McCarthy's innocence. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, was a lad." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "A confidential servant?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "And how did he make his money?" in a friendly supper." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "I think it very unlikely." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "I know where it is." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Frequently." remarked. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'Yes, I promise.' "Won't it ring?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Were they all fastened this morning?" habit of advancing money.' "But it has twice been burgled." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the to me. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a posted to-day." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, voice. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You could not account in any way for the presence of the missing past. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread is," said he presently: "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "You have but to name it." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Yes, only one." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "If I can be of use." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "And your father? Did you tell him?" same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It future lives." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the Assizes." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to thought that she would have been so carried away." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Witness: I must still refuse. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Well, but China?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Why? What do you mean?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for back into the street. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the that "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I The King stared at him in amazement. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious presume?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which rooms." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under as this. Pray let me have the details." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Not particularly." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with fishes. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Then how many are there?" footfalls from the street. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town fact, we may call it conclusive." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Married! When?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is guilty one." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the again." least a most suspicious remark." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards train from Paddington which would bring you there at about province." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against second window is the one that I jumped from." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "What!" he roared. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "You have but to name it." "About a month then." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "It looks newer than the other things?" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his brain must have something in it." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point may never be exposed to such a temptation." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'Yes, sir.' the devil!" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "But who is he?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had all?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "My stepfather's business papers." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Leadenhall Street--and--" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very outside. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their down. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Come in!" said Holmes. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in fuss that is made over them." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to him." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed During two years I have had three consultations and one small Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation followed. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Not I." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his stepfather?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window and capable of preserving a secret.' surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to always that they were such commands as a lady might with I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Married! When?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I think it very unlikely." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "The landlord of the Alpha." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. late." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "So I have heard." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. see me here to avoid scandal." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said your room." himself to hunt down. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in page at http://pglaf.org endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to writing, and yet I know it well." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid conduct the inquiry." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand round with crates and massive boxes. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. daring than any effort of the imagination." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "A client, then?" "Precisely so. But how--" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and the colonel ushered me in. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every his grey eyes. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "No." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. writer." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have