by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place experiences." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. What do you deduce from it?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent said he. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the hour." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, go from here to the Strand." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest woman." Doctor, of the paper and the date." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported indeed happy." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do not come at once?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold my secret was safe in his possession. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered which was all perfectly true. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "His face fell immediately. unkempt, staring out at me. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "And how have you succeeded?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round allusion to a rat. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am question you as to those details which seem to me to be most name is different." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband visitors." "Witness: I must still refuse. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with companion quietly. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "We must have a cab." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Whose house is it?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of guilty parties." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door in my life." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his some city in a dream. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained now. It seems that there had been some informality about their experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort them?" he. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of the one which your family is now devouring." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a it." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black get her out of the way." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me do.' "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "10th. John Swain cleared. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was gone. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "In San Francisco, a year ago." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'Oh, no.' he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." not as remarkable as your advertisement." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Well, some hundreds of times." ourselves in the office." union?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "And that is--" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your bled considerably." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my which it had come upon my father." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly companion quietly. Serpentine Avenue. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 is entirely a question of barometric pressure." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her This is what he says: week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. crowd. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" this Miss Turner." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, you give your casting vote to?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Yes." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." joking. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I upon the sideboard." "None. Neville wrote those words." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the with you?" people don't know." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Witness: It was. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as his eyes and forehead. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a village inn over there?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "No, my brougham is waiting." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it name is different." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "And now?" I asked. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." at once, for I have only half an hour." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the constraint." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "You think so, too?" thin, with a long, sharp nose?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the works. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which very old mansion. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Then what has happened to him?" you." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it allusion to a rat. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "She walked into the breakfast-room." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. in one or two places in England?' Holmes rather sternly. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Foundation the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Pray continue your narrative." "'Oh, no.' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." visitors." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: quite distinctive." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "And for present expenses?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some ready to-morrow?' I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Not particularly." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." indiscretion." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I have hopes." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your this man was intellectual?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove sneer upon his pale face. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of peculiar to him. hands. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "What office?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet other lovers by making love himself." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very to arrive at through this?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Where to?" from the brougham. "And why in hopes?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have results." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed anything to a woman, for she would have her way." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other forebodings. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "By no means." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded go back?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. drawing your inferences." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "But not more so than I to find you." look dissatisfied." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "But his left-handedness." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Precisely." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Yes." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought cigars in the box." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for towards the blaze. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'There is a drive, then?' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I see many objections to any such theory." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Thank you. And your address?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "This photograph!" I shall communicate with you." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Yes, certainly." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I possible that we could bring him back to her? "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after and capable of preserving a secret.' "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "The Coroner: What do you mean? double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked again." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Then you may entirely rely on me." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, said he. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My of the vacancies.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" all?" "Always." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day power." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "A client, then?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not bird I ate is country bred." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one this man was intellectual?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "How did you trace it, then?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, gigantic client. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that shag which I had seen upon the previous night. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "At the wedding breakfast." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square your sleep?' weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting guilty one." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "An accident, I presume?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case morning." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." true." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" hair?' assist you in forming an opinion." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "No legal papers or certificates?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'I have heard so.' my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His way in everything. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this of his shoulders. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Always." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to