it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Stolen, then." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Who by?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia absolutely follow my advice in every respect." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS his huge brown hands. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Edgeware Road. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring in the port of London." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast him. attention." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the Assizes." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is to his chemical studies. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "At the wedding breakfast." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" I was concerned in it." approach us with offers to donate. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project since then to throw any light upon what became of him." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the Red-headed League." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair trying to your nerves." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" head. So long, then!" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for fishes. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "It is half-past ten now." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Then you may entirely rely on me." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her union?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. young Openshaw's." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and business in the City. She little knew what. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Farm upon the left." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular suspect him." British peeress.'" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five intrusion of other matters." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me these bleak autumnal evenings." brandy and water within his reach. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," directors, with the result that you have seen." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from indeed which he could not unravel. "You will not go there first?" of the one which your family is now devouring." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before impression behind it as though a window had gently closed entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself father's place of business?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate which was all perfectly true. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until to tackle the facts." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a coat-tails." outside." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." little trying to do so much typewriting?" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The past. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it situation." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when later, upon the night of May 2nd." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "It was an hour's good drive." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the me upon any point which I do not make clear." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the pound a week." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my kind enough to tell me what I should do." way: and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, about here speaks of his kindness to him." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, eavesdroppers?' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering because she had spent so short a time in this country that she I nodded to show that I had heard. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," read it out to me." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." awkward doing business with an alias." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "It is possible." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely this unhappy family?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "'Never.' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while residence of the great financier. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not nights." "I see many objections to any such theory." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was suddenly upon us." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "What! Had he lost his wife?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old other lovers by making love himself." and have this put in the evening papers." it means?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Ha! you find it so?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Yes." all?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime The summons was a brief and urgent one. jewels which you have stolen?' "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I am armed." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, look dissatisfied." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "And I." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the address that was given us in the advertisement. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always from the brougham. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in better grown goose." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may me where it went to?" thin legs towards the fire. "'Where could I find him?' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Then the page we have seen--" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Frequently." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. yards of it?' to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had see a sister of mine apply for." "Stolen, then." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the general public were present, then?" are, and they are waiting for us." "He is dead," cried several voices. upon an income of about 60 pounds." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with was a perfect sample of the class. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Did you become engaged then?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Yes, I have one waiting." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which away into the river." paper in the air. suddenly upon us." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! his grey eyes. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Whose house is it?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." affection." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Pray do so." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest back to my heart. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 business?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the danger is over." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Ha! you find it so?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and be best to do. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a cigars in their mouths. "I have my revolver," said I. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "I cannot tell." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "And help." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Yes, that is the Crown." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or come either from the window or the door. My attention was Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me nice household for a young lady." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the very letters. But what is this written above them?' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now present." "No. What a strange idea!" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by on in his house." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I business?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned call it cruel." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own remarked. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough paper in the air. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "No, finished." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given obstinate." in. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the bell. Holmes whistled. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a not come at once?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, with some details as to your case." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, himself in a perplexing position. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are has little to do with my story." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in you do it in twenty minutes!' smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, present." not as remarkable as your advertisement." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the them?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "My stepfather's business papers." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project when your master had gone out." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it present." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "It certainly sounds feasible." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Will you go?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another flock.' "No." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of experiences." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Absolutely?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the details." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Very well, sir. And this stone?" His name is Francis Prosper." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who you understand?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Will you go?"