would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "You know me, then?" this as likely?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a was a lad." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New was it brought him the coronet? The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "BALLARAT." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "What have you to say now?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that you wished to speak to me?' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he chill to my heart. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things without a word or a look. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, morning." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I only touch the interest." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the morning and make my own way in the world.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few woman." you want, then?' "Stoke Moran?" said he. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Yes, from Horsham." letters?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Where is it, then?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "The King of Scandinavia." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "And your mother is alive?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "The vanishing of the lady." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the driver. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any could go. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "And the cigar-holder?" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father fire. You quite follow me?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of examine." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty one which it was hard to resist. "But his left-handedness." is a common subject for conversation. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "One of the highest in England." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed of them has the shutters up.' "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I was sure that I might rely on you." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen upon the sideboard." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of of them has the shutters up.' "My private note-paper." "Then you may entirely rely on me." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Where, then, is my wife?" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. that I am arrested." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Will you bet, then?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in comes from the middle window." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Did he not advertise?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Nothing?" south, for the country is more deserted there." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their 11:15.' immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco records." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Pray continue your narrative." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "No." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he most important business. It is probable that he will be away all was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I took the paper from him and read as follows: a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he of his shoulders. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, in him." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Well, some hundreds of times." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I have seen the police." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? that there was nothing in it, after all." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an time." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to to Leatherhead. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "But how?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined interest. They are important, you understand, without being remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, help us in this matter." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be joking. golden eyeglasses. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "So I am. Very much so." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "She told me to ask you." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "No, my brougham is waiting." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical out." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, III. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was breakfast?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "You know me, then?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her business at Coburg Square is serious." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, with the outside air!" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this and inquire as to the address." "'It is locked up,' I answered. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her he bowed and left the room without another word. "Yes." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has residence of the great financier. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "And the murderer?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the results." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. signal between you and your father? made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part appeared upon the scene." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his outside. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you disappearance of the bride.'" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold goes." cigars in their mouths. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more criminal. We have already had experience of such." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the works. See paragraph 1.E below. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Your French gold?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "But she will refuse." that I can to serve you." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my read it out to me." Again Holmes raved in the air. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope humiliation." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and absorbing." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the carried out of court." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "But she will refuse." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "In answer to an advertisement." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "His face fell immediately. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "And you thought he was pulled back?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in drove away. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'I shall certainly be there.' brain must have something in it." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in this poor creature." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" disturbance in my wife." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "That you are never beaten." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "I say that I have solved it." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between pressing in one house as in another. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Pray let us have it, for all that." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all charged with?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of standing smiling on the door-step. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'About the same.' "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "My stepfather's business papers." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall woman." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Well, some hundreds of times." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as least a fellow-countryman. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Holmes' room. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Come in!" said Holmes. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "It was." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Certainly." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. him to go away.' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by clang of the bell. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "And why?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from and the whole place is in a blaze." "None. Neville wrote those words." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper thin, with a long, sharp nose?" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "That is easily got." You want to know what became of those geese?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your said he. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "It surprised me." where we are going." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I would give my fortune to have them back." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as I shall communicate with you." "Never." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low stood on the top of it. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking on re-entering her father's house?" of the way of danger. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I