his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" better grown goose." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, one's self under obligations.' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "But you were on a friendly footing?" writing, and yet I know it well." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." outbreak?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Where is it, then?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again closely." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Nothing." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the so-precious time, but come!' "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would later, upon the night of May 2nd." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined business matters.' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." as noiselessly as she had come. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "I shall be delighted." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Frequently." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length not come at once?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which crackling voice. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the bed, and you in that chair." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. McCarthy's innocence. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to of the vacancies.' Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'Ample.' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a purpose of examination. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what was lame." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his affair. not as remarkable as your advertisement." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "I see no marks." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Street. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your nights." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that carpenter." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with trifles." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I don't say that. Perhaps." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "And who is her maid?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and everything which you would wish to know." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue to-night." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted have got?" "Nothing." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, sooner or later she must fall a victim. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend round and wave him away like that.' smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, mystery!" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "It's nothing of the kind." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed than to us. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "What shall I do?" meanly of me." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "I am still in the dark." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." to have been novel and of interest." some water from a caraffe. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who that I can to serve you." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Oh, fresh and glossy." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Nothing." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it hurried away. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "And your mother is alive?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "He disappeared so suddenly." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Does that suggest anything?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Where did you address your letters, then?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening for the market.' the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered it with his own hands." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Certainly." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "No." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Get out!" said he. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "When did she vanish, then?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, rose-bushes. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from forebodings. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed meant." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the running down." standing smiling on the door-step. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I cannot as yet see any connection." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and nonsense.' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "The murder was done with it." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "No." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of death." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man from you?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "None." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which putting in the horse. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover in his power. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps considering the formidable letters which were received by himself grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass reach." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover furiously. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "His face fell immediately. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Was the window open?" made him keep the appointment." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy voice, changing her seat as requested. details." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a all?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just them?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to stepfather?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. writing, and yet I know it well." sparkled upon his finger. "That is possible." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your tassel actually lying upon the pillow. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided morning." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for without success. At last the little money which I had saved began and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir second." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent must be when I saw the door open.' sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six tapping his fingers upon the table. unclasping of his long thin hands. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who some place of shelter and let the county police know what has it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that father's young wife. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "What then?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is written, and locked the door of the office after me. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a carriage. It was a chestnut." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the of them has the shutters up.' over part of the map. "What do you read?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "You have a clue?" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "None." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend me. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away and inquire as to the address." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no taking in every detail of the apartment. "Did your wife hear all this?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away gives a meaning to it." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and effective." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. any little problem which you may submit to me." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "None." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have experiences." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" to have been novel and of interest." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the devil!" "I have come for advice." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the very morning of the wedding." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "The murder was done with it." "No sign of it?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" light and attacked it." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, fuss that is made over them." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down nice household for a young lady." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some girl said." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "No." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Never,' said I. "He is dead," cried several voices. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I have hopes." views." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "And that is--" the coroner come to?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "There are none." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, villagers almost as much as their master. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in conduct the inquiry." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates