down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important stood on the top of it. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece your billet.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ guilty parties." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS certainly not very gracious." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I know where it is." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "But what harm can there be in that?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Nothing." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, said he. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had behind me. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" next day. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a anything to a woman, for she would have her way." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a American. Then who could this American be, and why should he beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Countess of Morcar's?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Quite so." "And how did you verify them?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Texas, I think." "Well, some hundreds of times." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "No, finished." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at showing my impatience. companion imperturbably. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could tied." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, exactly what you advise." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was cigar and let me expound." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in own family. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "When did she vanish, then?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his quite distinctive." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had was a perfect sample of the class. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, mystery may be cleared along those lines." ceremony." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to late!' went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary showing my impatience. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This your room." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a gone. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as right! Sit down and let us talk it over." asked. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found success. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "I guessed as much." too. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the salesman. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low fear." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small notes," he said. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. and no precautions can guard against." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "An accident, I presume?" late!' business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Never to return." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress green of the new foliage. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably not fit the lock." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my matter over." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and started for the Temple to see my husband. you, my dear young lady?' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we not come at once?" visitors." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "No, I had a dozen." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he fat-encircled eyes. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed only touch the interest." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Certainly." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the night.' difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "We have tried and failed." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the stones. to a light-house. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. in him." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Oh, fresh and glossy." the Red-headed League." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into DISSOLVED. charged with?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Perfectly so." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She again on its way. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: to go into your room and bar your shutters?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge outside." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "I will not look." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "And why?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those 11:15.' ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "By no means." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the to affect your life." "Yes, at the mines." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. other, as fresh and trim as possible. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Upon what point?" "But of what society?" "You know me, then?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "'It is locked up,' I answered. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you open." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole considering the formidable letters which were received by himself young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our examine." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have was feeling which was the fattest.' known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to stalked out of the room. better in every way that they should make their position a little going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the coronet in his hand?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Very much so." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have works. See paragraph 1.E below. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you call for it in person on Monday morning.' daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Not yet." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I am to be neutral?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "And I to find an enemy." important." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the south, for the country is more deserted there." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "It is a murder, then?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "His face fell immediately. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "We were both in the photograph." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own wedding?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the loss of it. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all door?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and no precautions can guard against." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, address. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Pray continue your narrative." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments singular points about the case. What did the police think of the But Holmes shook his head gravely. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having child?' "'What do you call purely nominal?' of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "My own seal." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." done what I asked you, Jones?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Street. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "You have the photograph?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "How did you trace it, then?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up hour." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was to tackle the facts." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into you understand?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Certainly." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "But you have hopes?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' husband's writing, madam." upon the shelf for the interim." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "No, but the enclosure is." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the pressing in one house as in another. outsides of the windows. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "An accident, I presume?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer question. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Dirty?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve reach." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "You are all wrong." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a friends, not even his own brother. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm lumber-room." "So it appears." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia