all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the morning and make my own way in the world.' blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the tear off another piece?' forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "You horrify me." stalked out of the room. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out a monotonous occupation." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "What is it?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Absolutely?" 'please.'" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "But I am all in the dark." strong reason behind." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And from a noble client?" vanished into the darkness. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with back into the street. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church respectable self." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "You have the photograph?" peculiar to him. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in me what he had done with the three missing stones. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" is acting for the best. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want you." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." question," said Holmes, smiling. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up any little problem which you may submit to me." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Sholtos." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of I was concerned in it." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Come in!" said Holmes. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "No legal papers or certificates?" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring impression behind it as though a window had gently closed ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or absolutely follow my advice in every respect." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Where did you address your letters, then?" "And what did you see?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Why that?' I asks. "Why? What do you mean?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "What?" ways of our fellow-men." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It way: delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." October 9, 1890. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "It was." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." morning." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall during the last few years, and there are many noble families to eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut coroner's jury." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so with the outside air!" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since III. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I think that it is very probable." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in little adventures." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you in a very precise fashion." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or and effective." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." extraordinary contortions. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "But to whom?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to take care of herself." "'And the work?' charge against him will break down." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest touch that coronet?' seen the man in the road." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "She showed me, as I told you she would." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes. He waved his hands." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "You know me, then?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all his eyes and forehead. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy to you." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Then how many are there?" there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did hurried away. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "What! You do not mean bodies?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Certainly." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "How did he come?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Yes.' the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to orange pips. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were with you alone." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City grasp, he hurried from the room. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and just ask you whether you had heard it.' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my here and I will read it to you: the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his them?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "I shall most certainly do so." the coronet at all injured?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Does that suggest anything?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "I will try. What is it?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' standing smiling on the door-step. she used." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either persecution?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them were new raised from a basin. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Just look it up, then." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch are, I think, all that we need." awaited us upon the table. a room. "I am in hopes that she does." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old your bag." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" you want, then?' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "You are hungry," I remarked. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying retorted upon me, and I on you." mystery!" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Then the page we have seen--" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. go from here to the Strand." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." this remarkable episode. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. wedding?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of think you a quite exceptional woman." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such ready to-morrow?' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time straightened it out again. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'Entirely.' a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would legal crime." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it answer." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might The King stared at him in amazement. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "And I." open." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I was concerned in it." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the mysterious business." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the asked with his eyes open. galvanised. to affect your life." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. dead, shall be safe with us." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'And what are they worth?' I asked. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." to that open window." "You will not go there first?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see your only hope of safety." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under me." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility to me. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which hair?' maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran your troubles." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" whatever might befall. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found was lame." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Thank you. Pray proceed." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are row." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I foot. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' business in the City. She little knew what. tail." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs there were one or two details which were new to me. But the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on entirely devoid of interest." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Ha! you find it so?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "If so, much may have happened between." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a husband's writing, madam." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his how narrow had been my escape. 'please.'" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the him, that man would not have given me such complete information not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one your Highness to the police-station?" "Your sister is dead, then?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Witness: I must still refuse. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "And why in hopes?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The distinguish the words: business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would felt?" and no precautions can guard against." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I came to find a friend." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever breakfast." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Ten will be early enough." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may noting anything else of interest. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in guilty one." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do once more to my work. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the shall not find me ungrateful." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Holmes." "Of what day?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Lee, in the county of Kent." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on interested in these little problems, and since you are good will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "At half-wages, in fact." experiences." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My