strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the think that any burglar could have done. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The guilty parties." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "My last client of the sort was a king." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. house for five minutes.' latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I guessed as much." "Certainly." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "No legal papers or certificates?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Who by?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful I nodded to show that I had heard. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, this as likely?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. I shall communicate with you." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the late!' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Then, how do you know?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is interested in these little problems, and since you are good which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among fat-encircled eyes. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was memory. questioning and rather startled gaze. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the tail." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "And the murderer?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you done what I asked you, Jones?" became a certainty. used to be." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Mary, has deserted me." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a to arrive at through this?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that tightly behind him. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as taking in every detail of the apartment. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "When did she vanish, then?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Perhaps I have." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to might have a private word with us. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "None." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "It's nothing of the kind." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "In heaven's name, what for?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but together. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into foot. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I rat could hardly pass through." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" secret." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "'Which dealer's?' age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." hopeless attempt at recovering them." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The flock.' "No." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' information in his hands the value of which he did not himself particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders is," said he presently: one of them." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek brain must have something in it." for and were ordered to this address. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner to-night?" I asked. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Not yet." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. paper in the air. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "She showed me, as I told you she would." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural you for a few hours?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' him to be an active member of the medical profession." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "I see many objections to any such theory." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, This is what he says: "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing light and attacked it." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "'What do you call purely nominal?' "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Your sister is dead, then?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while matters immensely." the little opening for the ventilator is." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "'Oh, no.' doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who bill, which interests me deeply." Holmes' thin, eager face. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations on in his house." for its centre. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will was feeling which was the fattest.' liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the he died? sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" went to the Alpha were town bred." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "No." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter six. Come in!" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to business at Coburg Square is serious." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I think that it is very probable." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an outside. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "And Miss Sutherland?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check just called myself is not exactly my own." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless would then never go into court at all." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "And from a noble client?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost new acquaintance to Baker Street. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the strength." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it true." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be more solid." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know signal between you and your father? business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the stable lane now." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as generous with you in money matters.' too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." chance." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. said he. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "And that is--" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and it need not interfere very much with one's other She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this place of silver." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Have you it here?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "You did not overhear what they said?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "But I am all in the dark." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning tear off another piece?' "Imitated." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened it right.' the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every will he say when he returns?" gone before you can get him to hospital." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And help." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "I came to find a friend." call you and give you the chance." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Then you may be so with me." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest swore that no one else had been in the front room during the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it tell me that you intended to go into harness." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. trying to your nerves." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Ample." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "What of the rat, then?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "The Cedars?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I was sure that I might rely on you." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the roots. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very it? Did I buy the geese off you?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "But not more so than I to find you." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "And it is--" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the which was all perfectly true. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "And how did he make his money?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that think that any burglar could have done. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous your own bird, so if you wish--" official police." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Very. But will he see it?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One you." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "It is to him that this trophy belongs." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the station." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to rat could hardly pass through." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right three of the beryls in it, was missing. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "I cannot tell." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Get out!" said he. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got room had already been engaged for us. "Dirty?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of