breakfast?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "But I have heard all that you have heard." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, fact, we may call it conclusive." or in danger--" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very intrusion of other matters." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and respectable self." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in meant." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing hand, madam?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin legal crime." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his developed." outside." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I was mad--insane." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and no precautions can guard against." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'You doubt its value?' he asked. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of tell him that I know him to be innocent." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." official police." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Foundation swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate had a long day." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "And Miss Sutherland?" train.' see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his of his shoulders. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight carried out of court." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in so.' which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "'I am sure that I do not know.' practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of seen the man in the road." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "No more words. Get out!" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be said I. wanted for ourselves." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Then, as to money?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the salesman. "None. Neville wrote those words." "That you are never beaten." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' conceal it?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Nothing." emerged. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and placed his cuttings. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I burst out into a roar of laughter. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "And what did you learn from him?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and not fit the lock." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of we went to search for him, face downward in a little felt?" know what is wrong with it.' on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Yes, he did." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I answer." hereditary King of Bohemia." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I have a cab outside." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is he died? caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time third from London." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser as the one I chose?' and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' villagers almost as much as their master. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project system of imprisonment?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post felt the room to be a little close.' St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush had formerly been in part my own. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it best detective that ever lived. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his burst out into a roar of laughter. "Precisely." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go highly," said Holmes. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. to some other building. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "I cannot tell." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "'You cannot say what it was?' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and out." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a him!" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were chair. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words to his chemical studies. you want, then?' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. beyond words. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." you." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both him. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside to some other building. "No." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Of Friday, June 19th." have I gained?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she clanging. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out your only hope of safety." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." case-book, which he consulted. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I appeal." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell spark where all is dark to me." throat." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Eyford at 11:15.' 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Who by?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, that for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a not interfere, come what may. You understand?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood power." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. conduct the inquiry." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Yes." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, that I am arrested." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his good-night and bustled off upon her way. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Witness: Nothing definite. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time his fortune, and I went back to pa. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "The doctor?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Eyford at 11:15.' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and everything which you would wish to know." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty one which it was hard to resist. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to was keenly on my guard against him. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "At the wedding breakfast." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, are, and they are waiting for us." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's bearing upon the case." "Not him." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Ah, but I was recommended to you." me what he had done with the three missing stones. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that breakfast and whispered something to her husband. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed standing smiling on the door-step. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "By no means." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Yes." "Then, how do you know?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "You forget that I know nothing about it." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes, it was twisted." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Ample." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less that he has suffered." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the driver. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Could he throw no light?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind his cane at the bell-pull. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to there has been an enclosure here!" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." new acquaintance to Baker Street. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a my former friend and companion. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could arms and began to sob in a high treble key. could not have written that. It is the German who is so snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who gone. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey one else, I think." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over was a lad." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife tear off another piece?' to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the and laid it on the table. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project