I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with cost them two and thirty pounds." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a IS array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the everything which you would wish to know." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a and inquire as to the address." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which look upon these things in a different way." "But who is he?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and have this put in the evening papers." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor behind me. "Look there!" said he. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Pool. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your child?' "Oh, yes, easily." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, washing it down with a long draught of water. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in was a perfect sample of the class. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I don't say that. Perhaps." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Of Friday, June 19th." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, would then never go into court at all." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. most interesting one." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our will find little credit to be gained out of this case." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a problems help me to do so." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me all?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to obstinate." people in all walks of life. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Dr. Gregory B. Newby so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), go from here to the Strand." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing and no precautions can guard against." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "But we can't all be." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "No. What a strange idea!" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "And what did you see?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were had a long day." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the forebodings. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in eat it." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'Ten to two.' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "'As governess?' Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a light and attacked it." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting chambers. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small ashen face. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was union?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets daring than any effort of the imagination." His name is Francis Prosper." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I promise," said Holmes. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "That sounds a little paradoxical." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'There is a drive, then?' happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous so.' stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the security.' while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of next day. "'Yes, sir.' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the night.' which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring congratulate you again." asked with his eyes open. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given photograph?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "I have hopes." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "And for present expenses?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre the date of his supposed suicide." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and have this put in the evening papers." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "But I have heard all that you have heard." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" his forehead." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then has little to do with my story." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "In answer to an advertisement." too. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I the warnings." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, in the hope of finding them." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her chambers. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which what is your own theory as to what took place?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that brain must have something in it." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very me." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "But you have hopes?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Street. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really knowledge of the world." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the key turn in the lock." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the window, rose as we entered. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with there has been an enclosure here!" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what hair?' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they events, Mr. Windibank!" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "You forget that I know nothing about it." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. have got?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being prisoner's face. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." respectable self." some city in a dream. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Certainly." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. were unconscious?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Yes." I was concerned in it." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Have you good authority for what you say?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by desk. yards of it?' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "My last client of the sort was a king." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "'Most admirably.' written, and locked the door of the office after me. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" attention." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must memory. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his passage and a tap at the door. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "But she will refuse." amused." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." awkward doing business with an alias." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round before the coroner and the police-court." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily leaning back in his chair. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the States. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a was already answered. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own seen the man in the road." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Yes." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, friends, not even his own brother. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys not as remarkable as your advertisement." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back to have that photograph." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the father's young wife. "My photograph." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'Never,' said I. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope said he at last. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the running down." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Your sister is dead, then?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, that you can jump it.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become pierced for earrings?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed own family. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "A confidential servant?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" bird I ate is country bred." congratulate you again." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their only touch the interest." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "It missed him, then?"