even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the stones. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room was already answered. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with clanging. second window is the one that I jumped from." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, you understand?" "'Most admirably.' narrative." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a colour had been driven from his face. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without gentleman's clothes. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that present." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sneer upon his pale face. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. nights." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to outbreak?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Ample." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "You saw the ventilator, too?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in take the flies, but not before." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which writing, and yet I know it well." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "You forget that I know nothing about it." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Where to?" "But to whom?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the to change my dress. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "In the cells." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Nearly eleven." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "In the cells." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned This is what he says: round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter for the market.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the armchair which I pushed forward for him. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "But you would not advise me to refuse?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." thirty. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, ventilator." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I prove to be little relation between the different incidents of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Won't it ring?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Yes." IS railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the sufficient punishment." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on there." Eyford." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "The best possible." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. detained." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for hereditary King of Bohemia." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "And sit in the dark?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "But what harm can there be in that?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting to have been novel and of interest." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are key of the affair now." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his enter into my head. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you washing it down with a long draught of water. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, pierced for earrings?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Stolen!' he cried. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Entirely." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped thin, with a long, sharp nose?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. have had none more fantastic than this." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." six. Come in!" He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as upon the sideboard." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And grasp, he hurried from the room. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one opened the door, and slipped through. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our learned something! Where are the gems?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. open." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort following enigmatical notices: comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the night.' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The bore every mark of being an average commonplace British suddenly upon us." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike simple cases which are so extremely difficult." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the his wife has ceased to love him." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "That is it on the dressing-table." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "To an end?" "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "My stepfather's business papers." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing appeared upon the scene." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen During two years I have had three consultations and one small has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. situation." "What, then?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both His name is Francis Prosper." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such my little problems." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every be. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Which are?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. on in his house." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, I took the paper from him and read as follows: just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My to-night?' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Holmes, the busybody!" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort joking. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation to you." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and door?" it with his own hands." "Have you it here?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "On Monday." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose point in the dark hollow of his hand. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I answered that I had not. the date of his supposed suicide." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at do you make of it all?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and to-night's adventure." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every and put his glass in his pocket. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered behind me. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: The events in question occurred in the early days of my and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast way in everything. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making pressing in one house as in another. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a system of imprisonment?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Witness: I must still refuse. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the province." new duties?' very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter opened the door, and slipped through. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally fatally injured? sparkled upon his finger. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his and effective." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "One of his hands." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "You are all wrong." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "And you thought he was pulled back?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom too. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, mystery!" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to-night?' a monotonous occupation." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Who was the criminal, then?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "So I heard. You have him here?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "'Why, what did you think?' I asked.