railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his business came to an end." "That is not always so easy." I held the little printed slip to the light. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the little opening for the ventilator is." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was skylight. "Nothing?" photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at case-book, which he consulted. "Entirely." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take you found me to-night--and running through the front room she interest. They are important, you understand, without being despair." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes, I have one waiting." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to been shamefully used." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Well?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to brandy and water within his reach. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the present." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see floor. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is sentimental considerations in the background which would induce rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so whereabouts. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn But Holmes shook his head gravely. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "No." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and inquire as to the address." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Where, then, is my wife?" this poor creature." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "My opinion is in no way altered." "Yes." manager. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very matter." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very few hundred pounds.' through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." them?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "That sounds a little paradoxical." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with this man was intellectual?" was not a bird to be seen there. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of shoulder. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's washing it down with a long draught of water. legal crime." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the emerged. "The knees of his trousers." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Now, then, what's the last entry?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "A confidential servant?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I promise," said Holmes. "Then I do not see the point." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much direction." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "You are all wrong." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Does that suggest anything?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery lips." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "I am about to be married." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter you in yours." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a I am not easy in my mind about them." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. voice, changing her seat as requested. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'What, the red-headed man?' name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking approach us with offers to donate. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope opened a pocket-book and took out a note. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right neither fascinating nor artistic." details." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of learned something! Where are the gems?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Where, indeed?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you for the market.' the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Mrs. Toller serenely. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be do.' mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which public press." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'Most admirably.' "On your arm?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. unclasping of his long thin hands. "I cannot say that I have." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home never came back." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and are windows in it, of course?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Stoke Moran?" said he. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of their singular warning or token before them when starting upon quick march!" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Do you know him?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Holmes, the busybody!" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "What!" he roared. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "By no means." affection." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been success. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "We have tried and failed." "Absolutely none." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something grasp, he hurried from the room. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "But we can't all be." "Which are?" "None." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him outbreak?" the Red-headed League." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Sutherland. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could as he remarks, very much against the son." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the when your master had gone out." Watson," he said cordially. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "No, finished." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Witness: Nothing definite. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'Yes.' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my to tackle the facts." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I keep the flames under. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'You cannot say what it was?' Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made rooms." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Eyford at 11:15.' the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "How many? I don't know." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was go back?" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the of it with the greatest attention. arrangements." "I shall most certainly do so." "My opinion is in no way altered." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "This concluded the examination of the witness." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Very. But will he see it?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Well." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet bore every mark of being an average commonplace British more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Stolen, then." crowd. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and do.' from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. your equipment. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles third from London." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But you were on a friendly footing?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." there is a decided draught." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted have an American origin." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Eh? What was that?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." promised to bring home. I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is leave you to your papers for a little." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "It is solved." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were of Mr. Rucastle's." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Your presence might be invaluable." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my highroad, where all traces were lost. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at all that?" Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my triumphant cloud from his cigarette. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "When did it break out?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always been." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay crime." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch showing my impatience. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old becomes even more simple." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, yards of it?' "I fear not." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Then I can wait in the next room." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless is entirely a question of barometric pressure." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "How often?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch begin with, and I had not got mine yet." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of His name is Francis Prosper." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you weapon." future lives." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." wedding?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "When did she vanish, then?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in