answer." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "'How far from the body?' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Then I do not see the point." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country intimate personal affairs in this public manner." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Certainly, madam." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "What steps will you take?" I asked. notes," he said. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of will he say when he returns?" hardly wander." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, to-night." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "But to whom?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that man. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was people in all walks of life. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I grasp, he hurried from the room. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was to-night." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Have you her photograph?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his dear old homesteads?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the only touch the interest." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "You have carte blanche." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, ventilator." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent only touch the interest." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, sneer upon his pale face. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Why serious?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble the armchair which I pushed forward for him. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on conclusions. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, said he. "Entirely." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his followed. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "He might." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "I am still in the dark." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is instituted." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. here." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "No sign of it?" chill to my heart. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far six. Come in!" "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'Very good.' your sleep?' answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and files of the old papers, following the future career of every produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to presented which may be striking and bizarre without being your bag." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling could go. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to have an American origin." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid nothing with him." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an of them has the shutters up.' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying away in different directions, and I went off to make my own such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something records." to take care of herself." father's young wife. see a sister of mine apply for." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the all that?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall annoyance, but no jest. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with in him." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have followed. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "And I to find an enemy." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Of Friday, June 19th." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Witness: Nothing definite. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? envelope. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," in darkness. man. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter with some details as to your case." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. His smile broadened. you in yours." "Certainly." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons question," said Holmes, smiling. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all It was close upon four before the door opened, and a The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the habit of advancing money.' had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the inquest, and which are worth considering." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than guilty one." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical happened." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "'Entirely.' I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled them, and came down just as you departed. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. you." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Imitated." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "It was." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should existence." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he useful material for showing traces. The double line a little sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back his huge brown hands. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "I will, Miss Turner." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had call the police, let the police find what they can.' coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, do." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." was a perfect sample of the class. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "How on earth--" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical done what I asked you, Jones?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my acted in my house last night?" to tell." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into stalked out of the room. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first sneer upon his pale face. "Not particularly." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and of a light. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an is entirely a question of barometric pressure." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, that you saw all that I did." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms conduct the inquiry." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with peculiar to him. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." woman." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no into the room. the King without delay." lamp. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "That also I could fathom." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Have you her photograph?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Ample." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." if only as a check to my own memory." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the coroner come to?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond that you can jump it.' that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "I answered that I had not. felt the room to be a little close.' certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled locked. relief. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "The knees of his trousers." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Just look it up, then." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." stood on the top of it. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "What will you do, then?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and glanced through. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring of this gang." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Did you become engaged then?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered beyond words. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, points to suicide?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Of what?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I was sure that I might rely on you." "'Certainly,' I answered. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said