in the hope of finding them." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we here." business matters.' to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'In my own bureau.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "In what way?" asked Holmes. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in society." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe served to weaken the effect. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Game for a morning drive?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The me. You must get home instantly and act." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "In the cells." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I think it very unlikely." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full straighten it?" less than 26s. 4d. During two years I have had three consultations and one small From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has this truth that in these little records of our cases which you will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for past. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I never have." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you always that they were such commands as a lady might with will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very of his shoulders. "Proceed, then." occupations.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." photograph?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the if I call to-morrow?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is affair. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Quite so. She has her freedom." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt wedding?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Where, then, is my wife?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of carriage. It was a chestnut." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently helping a boy to put up the shutters. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Certainly." kindly on the shoulder. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if was keenly on my guard against him. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," information in his hands the value of which he did not himself happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' guilty one." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "I am about to be married." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "A greater distance to travel." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were suspect him." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was passage and a tap at the door. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his works. See paragraph 1.E below. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the hardly wander." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. my former friend and companion. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" present." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are had a long day." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and quite distinctive." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would of them has the shutters up.' "You horrify me." coat-tails." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its guilty one." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "She told me to ask you." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east chambers. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Can I be of assistance?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her friends, not even his own brother. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon so.' girl said." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "And Miss Sutherland?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been place, I think that there is good ground to think that the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting hardly wander." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Yes, it was twisted." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I future lives." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his politicians who had been sent down from the North. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully best detective that ever lived. round with crates and massive boxes. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the easy-going way." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began the armchair which I pushed forward for him. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "And when will you call?" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from The telegram which we eventually received came late one night coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "By all means." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "It came here." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." to talk it over. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." You want to know what became of those geese?" you want, then?' the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that interested in these little problems, and since you are good him. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not you for a few hours?" "9th. McCauley cleared. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "No, distinctly professional." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that again on its way. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and to surprise her." "You think so, too?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "In which, sir?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I know where it is." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he occurred." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Indeed! Whose, then?" Serpentine Avenue. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, away to you." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is your only hope of safety." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, out of this horrible affair." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Witness: I must still refuse. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis might help us?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Stoke Moran." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his God! What an exposure! What can I do?" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, coat-tails." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a them, and came down just as you departed. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. client, rising. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look exactly what you advise." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "'What are you doing there?' he asked. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." The events in question occurred in the early days of my which are rolled in Rotterdam." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to the inquest, and which are worth considering." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "The King of Scandinavia." and that he would see to anything that turned up. Foundation Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long presume?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it than was visible to me." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few call you and give you the chance." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Yes, that is the Crown." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm up this clue while it is still hot." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl have an American origin." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Clair, of Lee." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the night.' unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what giving me time to thank him. of receipt of the work. "His face fell immediately. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, wedding?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "No, I am descending." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the everything which you would wish to know." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated that you can jump it.' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely within hail.' recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking comes from the middle window." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a best detective that ever lived. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Yes." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss in the dead of the night?' as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." one else, I think." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how friends, not even his own brother. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my should be taken.' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Doctor, of the paper and the date." really the only notable feature about the thing." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not must be when I saw the door open.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can have not had my rubber." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "She told me to ask you." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the she to prove their authenticity?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few have had none more fantastic than this." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "It is half-past ten now." less than 26s. 4d. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the