whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided should be so warm over such a trifle." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, evidence," I remarked. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Stoke Moran." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "And how?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "No." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' may have an influence upon European history." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't business at Coburg Square is serious." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "But I am all in the dark." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Holmes." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered crackling voice. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of it with the greatest attention. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he sneer upon his pale face. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "And you thought he was pulled back?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "'Quite sure, dad.' because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a works. See paragraph 1.E below. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "My dear Holmes!" neither fascinating nor artistic." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I new duties?' reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "By no means." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for hand, madam?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" these bleak autumnal evenings." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room dramatic, in fact." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "At half-wages, in fact." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite prison!" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "My dear Holmes!" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Where is it, then?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who about here speaks of his kindness to him." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you and effective." them?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the letters?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "No legal papers or certificates?" you." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I asked with his eyes open. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "To an end?" man. I know him from the photograph." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could some city in a dream. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it desk. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "They are typewritten," I remarked. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of than was visible to me." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little have not had my rubber." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the not fit the lock." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She footfalls from the street. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred front of me. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds McCarthy." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate had died away into the silence from which it rose. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Absolutely?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is there has been an enclosure here!" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Whose house is it?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You forget that I know nothing about it." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is his cane at the bell-pull. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled name is different." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'Ten to two.' Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the address that was given us in the advertisement. "That is not always so easy." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in system of imprisonment?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Can I be of assistance?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that late!' large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and brain must have something in it." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our fat-encircled eyes. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other row." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is woman who has had her own way to make in the world. question. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE someone who had been in Australia." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off drove away. may have an influence upon European history." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the said he. once more to my work. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your records." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Nothing?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "We must have a cab." "No." results." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'Entirely.' "One of the highest in England." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how sufficient punishment." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in awkward doing business with an alias." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "He might." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "No good news?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Indeed! Whose, then?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, compunction about shooting them down." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the you do it in twenty minutes!' *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I room had already been engaged for us. plantation.' time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'Yes, sir.' brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for him, that man would not have given me such complete information this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "That is possible." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons address. that I can to serve you." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Have you it here?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this humiliation." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might six. Come in!" man. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Certainly." became a certainty. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were fashion which was peculiar to him. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Only as much as we can deduce." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Yes." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose had formerly been in part my own. "'Quite sure, dad.' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "There is the writing." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Only as much as we can deduce." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I was afraid that you were engaged." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three bonnet, and went out." that you can jump it.' paper in the air. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "But your client--" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I narrative." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we himself. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship then?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the but preventing her from injuring another. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I see many objections to any such theory." any little problem which you may submit to me." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but flock.' 1.F. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now pierced for earrings?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Do you go out much in society?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "In the cells." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make made his money." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Perhaps we may make them less so." room had already been engaged for us. there is a decided draught." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the that you can jump it.' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed to affect your life." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his to affect your life." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Pool. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do chill to my heart. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to forecastle of an emigrant ship. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards arrangements." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to any more." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "What then?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now disappearance of the bride.'" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not of Fenchurch Street." the one as in the other." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the believe that I should never have any practice at all. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "You know me, then?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up minor matters until to-morrow." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during be sorry for having acted so harshly." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I have come for advice." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come