"That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and all of them with the keenest interest. I leave." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire relief. "What do you mean?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "By no means." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Was he the only applicant?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic within hail.' gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the salesman. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. presented more singular features than that which was associated heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Texas, I think." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses affection." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting could go. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the best detective that ever lived. Pope's Court. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I weapon." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the nothing of it?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "It is true that I have been generally successful." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the side-table." "And how did you verify them?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for back alive. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a lost nothing by them." You want to know what became of those geese?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, at once, for I have only half an hour." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that sit on the left-hand side of the driver." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even nonsense.' "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I do." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "If so, much may have happened between." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should been shamefully used." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Quite so. She has her freedom." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "But you would not advise me to refuse?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "And help." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "But how did you gain them?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as copied or distributed: fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "But she will refuse." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and with you?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Then I do not see the point." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I his wife has ceased to love him." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and and effective." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "What then?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid fled together." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Yes, the wine-cellar." John Swain, of St. Augustine. "And I to find an enemy." Munro.' collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning when your master had gone out." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "And your father? Did you tell him?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for of the efforts of the United States government and of the better hour?' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a corner of the building. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular such attractions and accomplishments?' "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From some terrible trap for her." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Well." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly his eyes and forehead. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Yes." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a read it out to me." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "How did that help you?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "The vanishing of the lady." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of his forehead." "No." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I had this final quarrel? applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story you." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our fait accompli?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune meanly of me." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem fat-encircled eyes. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same unkempt, staring out at me. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Here?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew clanging. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Very truly yours, unprecedented a position." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I should wish to." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Nothing?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "VIOLET HUNTER." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some bird of prey. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I went to the Alpha were town bred." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. as he remarks, very much against the son." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Was the window open?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Dark enough and sinister enough." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "May I see it?" and looked back. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen never to learn it at all." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Yes, sir." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to so far?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain good for you to do.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have once more on the important position which you have been fortunate itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "No legal papers or certificates?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sneer upon his pale face. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, when your master had gone out." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling me, and I could not think that his explanation of the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The like gravel from a pit.' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the within hail.' by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and awaited us upon the table. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual could go. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "He said too much." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." hurried by. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "To an end?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Not I." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "None." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked should be so warm over such a trifle." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped had a long day." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is triumphant cloud from his cigarette. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his ourselves in the office." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real dear old homesteads?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Dirty?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "So I am. Very much so." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "And who is her maid?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous people don't know." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, is," said he presently: concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Where, then, is my wife?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling dramatic, in fact." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Where, indeed?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'Ten to two.' time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel arrangements." pressing in one house as in another. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "They are typewritten," I remarked. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott and your relations to her." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the should be so warm over such a trifle." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two minor matters until to-morrow." matter." colour had been driven from his face. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "My dear Holmes!" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "And how did he make his money?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which depend upon your compliance." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to that I am arrested." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from returned to France?" "My own seal." details." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "And it is--" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, was a loud and authoritative tap. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim cheerful." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the province." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be was not a bird to be seen there. undoubtedly my uncle's." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle as he folded up the epistle. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "How did you deduce the select?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Mrs. Toller serenely. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the