on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Then how many are there?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far in his hands." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. call you and give you the chance." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what as noiselessly as she had come. lost his Christmas dinner." paper in the air. sound at heart." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Yes, he did." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." about here speaks of his kindness to him." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'And what are they worth?' I asked. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Yes, that is the Crown." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your it." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "And how have you succeeded?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the intrusion of other matters." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "He is dead," cried several voices. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Dr. Gregory B. Newby King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the and no precautions can guard against." sound at heart." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Very much so." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang not personally threatened." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small cigar and let me expound." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the fat-encircled eyes. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "What can it mean?" I gasped. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The directors have had misgivings upon the subject." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I have a cab outside." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest one of the states of the Union." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I said he. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how chamber." drove away. present." never to learn it at all." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted more solid." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "But what harm can there be in that?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of again." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare generous with you in money matters.' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no use an arc-and-compass breastpin." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by tell me that you intended to go into harness." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in himself. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." shall use the carriage to-night." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we went to the Alpha were town bred." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "That was it, sir." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his guilty parties." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she emerged. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too to affect your life." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Of what?" call it cruel." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the him. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." fait accompli?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "On Monday." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of do you make of it all?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down thin legs towards the fire. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to strange features which were associated with the two crimes which me have 200 pounds?' to talk it over. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Pool. shoulder. said I. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed begun to whiten, even as mine has." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your John Swain, of St. Augustine. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in annoyance, but no jest. "He said that you could solve anything." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" to tell." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms soul! here is her carriage at the door." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was individual and becomes the badge of a society." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "That sounds a little paradoxical." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "You are hungry," I remarked. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Nothing?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole served to weaken the effect. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his me. You must get home instantly and act." golden eyeglasses. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "And your mother is alive?" in darkness. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only him!" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the in. death." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Not in a good cause." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Oh, fresh and glossy." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Yes?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "One of his hands." answered with a sidelong glance. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "I should be immensely obliged to you." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. system of imprisonment?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I from the brougham. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." gone. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of outside." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time his huge brown hands. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "And the cigar-holder?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and IS find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I do." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the I nodded again. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a this unhappy family?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "The knees of his trousers." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, dates and names. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the sparkled upon his finger. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted lamp. "Oh, fresh and glossy." DAMAGE. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson we went to search for him, face downward in a little "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would detective. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save help us in this matter." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "How many? I don't know." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "At the wedding breakfast." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "We have tried and failed." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he asked with his eyes open. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "None." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must directors, with the result that you have seen." "Of what?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "So I have heard." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "And now?" He raised his hand. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." papers diligently of late, have you not?" said he. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 very peculiar words of the dying woman?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Yes, they were peculiar boots." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be how narrow had been my escape. to change my dress. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One was it brought him the coronet? "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful morning." you?' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you secret." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been death." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Where, then, is my wife?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There good-night and bustled off upon her way. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An address. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were upon the shelf for the interim." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to enter into my head. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the bottom.' soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed me." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for again before evening." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should these bleak autumnal evenings." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was disappearance of these gems?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "His face fell immediately. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "None." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "This concluded the examination of the witness." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "And Irene Adler?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out were unconscious?" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "I am still in the dark." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "What will you say?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" desk. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no made him keep the appointment." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." obstinate." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at