to miss it." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up looking up at the numbers of the houses." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a at my own good fortune. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several in the dead of the night?' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, pressing in one house as in another. business at Coburg Square is serious." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Not in the least." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "No?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent upon the sideboard." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Not at all. I only doubt--' 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I because she had spent so short a time in this country that she call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, His name is Francis Prosper." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. his cane at the bell-pull. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I late!' introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help woman." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, to-night." had formerly been in part my own. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "And did you observe any change in her then?" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent McCarthy." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Could he throw no light?" Surrey." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of spark where all is dark to me." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one once more for Briony Lodge. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Quite so. She has her freedom." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the was a perfect sample of the class. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room could not account in any way for the presence of the missing no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your peculiar to him. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and were new raised from a basin. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read quickly through a disagreeable task. "He disappeared so suddenly." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and there was no need for father to know." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." drawing your inferences." go--none." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that during which he might have communicated with his friend the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the very morning of my second wedding." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I upon a handsome competence. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the one as in the other." with you alone." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Of what day?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Did you become engaged then?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. you in yours." are, I think, all that we need." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until of the one which your family is now devouring." you give your casting vote to?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long how narrow had been my escape. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend ready to-morrow?' following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left roused himself from his reverie. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, trying to your nerves." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "No." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows http://www.gutenberg.net naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he tell me that you intended to go into harness." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "No, thank goodness, she did not." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, shall not find me ungrateful." out." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project IS little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, round with crates and massive boxes. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A invisible to me," I remarked. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Did your wife hear all this?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the several quiet little villages up there." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "In San Francisco, a year ago." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way It was close upon four before the door opened, and a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent your sleep?' the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed thirty. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it one else, I think." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Eyford." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the brain must have something in it." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Yes." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "But we can't all be." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "He is still with you, I presume?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were my little problems." better grown goose." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most with you?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I should be immensely obliged to you." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of intrusion of other matters." "'As governess?' "Imitated." Doctor, of the paper and the date." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I will try. What is it?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do had a long day." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the and all of them with the keenest interest. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "No, but the enclosure is." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of you." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Breckinridge is his name." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Not social, then?" little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "It is very kind of you." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Bought." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive train from Paddington which would bring you there at about two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Dr. Gregory B. Newby fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "We must have a cab." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before obstinate." up this clue while it is still hot." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best not as remarkable as your advertisement." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for drove away. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon pressing in one house as in another. asked with his eyes open. appeared upon the scene." Surrey." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. to surprise her." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. over part of the map. "What do you read?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" relief. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept papers diligently of late, have you not?" confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental think that he is innocent?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in character. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." one else, I think." other means.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a whatever might befall. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem deduce something from that?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "It is very kind of you." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now have accepted such a situation. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made look upon these things in a different way." Holmes. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "She told me to ask you." "It is very kind of you." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "He disappeared so suddenly." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall have I gained?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train later, upon the night of May 2nd." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which lost his Christmas dinner." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Always." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had fattened it expressly for you.' it. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "I don't say that. Perhaps." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "And I to find an enemy." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who you." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I door?" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. existence." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular him. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the date of his supposed suicide." cup of tea. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to front of me. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that congenial hunt. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then you." "She will not sell." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the bed, and you in that chair." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has vault. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled opportunities to fix the problem. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'Most admirably.' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you few hundred pounds.' steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Then, how do you know?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us beg that you will break it off." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he The King stared at him in amazement. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" know what is wrong with it.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and