and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four my room." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked down from London to inquire more deeply into it." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up page at http://pglaf.org isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of in my life." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him appeared upon the scene." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Again Holmes raved in the air. I leave." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. him. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Nothing?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his interested in these little problems, and since you are good to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was key turn in the lock." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Was he the only applicant?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "But I am all in the dark." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." neither fascinating nor artistic." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt made him keep the appointment." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Serpentine Avenue. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you comes from the middle window." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have You want to know what became of those geese?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream as he folded up the epistle. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. your troubles." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Perhaps we may make them less so." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. not within a twentieth part of the market price." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'You doubt its value?' he asked. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money himself to tell his story. "But you were on a friendly footing?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? death." the room while you explain this matter?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of later, upon the night of May 2nd." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "So it appears." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "It is no ordinary one." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. furiously. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it will take you up to see the machine.' our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Pray do so." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Foundation Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly than was visible to me." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "You are all wrong." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'Which dealer's?' feature." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for obstinate." upon the shelf for the interim." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Yes, that is the Crown." I held the little printed slip to the light. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "It is very kind of you." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab of Fenchurch Street." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend drawing your inferences." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Not social, then?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his you in yours." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and never came back." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Dr. Gregory B. Newby "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and fact, we may call it conclusive." way in." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "To the police?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose events than those which have happened in my own family." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the second window is the one that I jumped from." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a lumber-room." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project nights." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other way in." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which strode off upon his way. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Absolutely?" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from would then never go into court at all." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly strength of mind to control. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for works. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "To an end?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "And Irene Adler?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Oh, the cause is excellent!" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a redistribution. 1.E.9. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to here and I will read it to you: about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that him nearly every evening." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I over with notes and figures. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'And what salary do you ask?' Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Munro.' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this rose-bushes. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and the whole place is in a blaze." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I have seen the police." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "My stepfather's business papers." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long village inn over there?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which even of instruction." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to gentleman's clothes. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency his forehead." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Then what has happened to him?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Then what has happened to him?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Literary Archive Foundation society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very page at http://pglaf.org him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "'There is a drive, then?' Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' bill, which interests me deeply." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his should be taken.' correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed papers must be those that are destroyed.' should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I fear not." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a dear old homesteads?" again, where I was soon asleep. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Dr. Becher's." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "So I heard. You have him here?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature better in every way that they should make their position a little few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his outside. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside bird of prey. unprecedented a position." this poor creature." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some so.' a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "To the police?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his carpenter." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Not social, then?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and all of them with the keenest interest. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "The murder was done with it." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to noting anything else of interest. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Yes?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had McCarthy's innocence. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Pope's Court. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some was keenly on my guard against him. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it hardly wander." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to wanted for ourselves." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But the mystery?" the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Well, some hundreds of times." noting anything else of interest. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after than to us. were new raised from a basin. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the empty. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. secret." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' instincts rose up against that laugh. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for locked. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open present." is acting for the best. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an