man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and bill, which interests me deeply." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite matter." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for made him keep the appointment." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of carpenter." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an back to my heart. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "It came here." less than 26s. 4d. "And why?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing yourselves in at night?" over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I will do it." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "What! Had he lost his wife?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the bachelor.' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "I beg pardon." Pool. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case little adventures." "Entirely." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what good for you to do.' bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked It may be so in this case, also." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Oh, yes, easily." fait accompli?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in very morning of my second wedding." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of acquaintance?" "Yes." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and business in the City. She little knew what. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "I am in hopes that she does." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of from you?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you at my remark. humiliation." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; least a most suspicious remark." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." enter into my head. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and business matters.' flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an confronted him. forebodings. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Not in a good cause." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Countess of Morcar's?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took cup of tea. stood on the top of it. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'Is purely nominal.' are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon fat-encircled eyes. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a crime. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "What do you mean?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "It is possible." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation gone before you can get him to hospital." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "From his hat?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped call it cruel." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our followed. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." waste of energy." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." his huge brown hands. for its centre. "None." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same was keenly on my guard against him. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "So I have heard." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet sit on the left-hand side of the driver." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Of what day?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of undoubtedly my uncle's." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the roused himself from his reverie. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced than to us. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no occurred." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to I have it here in my museum." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from to-night." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. delirious. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round was a perfect sample of the class. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had there is a decided draught." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "I am sure." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Eh? What was that?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon such attractions and accomplishments?' cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It sofa. This way, please!" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away my friend's incisive reasoning. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the than was visible to me." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "How do you know, then?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "What do you make of that, Watson?" "From his hat?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "VIOLET HUNTER." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is it right.' always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose were wasted." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Pray do so." second." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'Stolen!' he cried. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to my special province." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Perfectly so." of this gang." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An we went to search for him, face downward in a little "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the past. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it not personally threatened." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "She will not sell." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Nothing." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if relief. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly bears upon the case?" whereabouts. "Why did you pick him?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers away to you." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Certainly." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "And now?" I asked. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a are, I think, all that we need." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe indeed happy." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It fait accompli?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man it." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white interests were the same as his." "But I have heard all that you have heard." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Your French gold?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my delirious. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I to-night." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." DAMAGE. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "We were both in the photograph." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Ten will be early enough." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "How did that help you?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated now. It seems that there had been some informality about their in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project at home. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may brought there to personate someone, and the real person is came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like said he. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Then I can wait in the next room." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and your relations to her." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their me, and I could not think that his explanation of the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "That is easily got." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little guilty parties." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Very. But will he see it?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. ways of our fellow-men." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to events than those which have happened in my own family." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he character. clang of the bell. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my will take you up to see the machine.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon