Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Not in a good cause." everything which you would wish to know." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic chance." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Arthur Conan Doyle deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "But we can't all be." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "And leave your case unfinished?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as just called myself is not exactly my own." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement place of silver." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to-night's adventure." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." my friend's incisive reasoning. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Here?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as with you?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, it." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "That is also quite modern," said the lady. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Then, as to money?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon is," said he presently: directors, with the result that you have seen." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing page at http://pglaf.org ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The and the colonel ushered me in. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Yes." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your introspective fashion. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police shadow pass over his face as I spoke. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. thirty. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon written, and locked the door of the office after me. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it opportunities to fix the problem. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My absolutely follow my advice in every respect." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' one of the states of the Union." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" detained." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Ah!" thin legs towards the fire. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Always." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? both be extremely obliged.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my there were so many in the whole country as were brought together man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she in this way: more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was without success. At last the little money which I had saved began to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Yes." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "I cannot think." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson during the last few years, and there are many noble families to morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "'Which dealer's?' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, emerged. or other trace. But how on earth--" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old other, as fresh and trim as possible. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was cigar and let me expound." to arrive at through this?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I cannot as yet see any connection." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who stood on the top of it. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "We have tried and failed." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. said Mr. Holder. "Only as much as we can deduce." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "What of the rat, then?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I will do it." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Yes, it was twisted." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of was a loud and authoritative tap. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon or in danger--" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "The best possible." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Eyford at 11:15.' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Did your wife hear all this?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Serpentine Avenue. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Well, it is a possible supposition." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide case-book, which he consulted. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "You have a clue?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Entirely." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously your troubles." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. companion imperturbably. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such you." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "How did you trace it, then?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some should be so warm over such a trifle." you give your casting vote to?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'Yes.' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Not him." events than those which have happened in my own family." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Ten to two.' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "That was it, sir." I approached. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" telegram would bring me down to your help." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Street. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'What would be the hours?' I asked. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "You think so, too?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to change my dress. "Nothing." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "And your mother is alive?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we easy-going way." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with as the one I chose?' both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and written, and locked the door of the office after me. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "At half-wages, in fact." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the inner apartment." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Holmes, the busybody!" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of which our visitor detailed to us. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "The murder was done with it." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "We were both in the photograph." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." heavily into it. fire. You quite follow me?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of obstinate." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "This concluded the examination of the witness." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as questionable one." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. peculiar to him. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "What can you not understand?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "'In my own bureau.' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and files of the old papers, following the future career of every stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "It is solved." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it hopeless attempt at recovering them." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a started for the Temple to see my husband. envelope. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to might help us?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very that he has suffered." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now closely." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid to affect your life." "No more words. Get out!" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the coronet at all injured?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both of it with the greatest attention. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man back alive. dates and names. than was visible to me." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern as he folded up the epistle. works. See paragraph 1.E below. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be your Highness to the police-station?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his approach us with offers to donate. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." other means.' useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, copied or distributed: light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no examine." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little of this gang." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I have come for advice." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the digesting their breakfasts at home." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I should wish to." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and hopeless attempt at recovering them." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. questioning and rather startled gaze. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella will not take me long to tell. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Sutherland. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal good for you to do.' "A greater distance to travel." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the