come either from the window or the door. My attention was Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature and that he would see to anything that turned up. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the will be renamed. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Not social, then?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'Yes, sir.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Holmes' thin, eager face. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such ashen face. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think cigar and let me expound." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Well, some hundreds of times." have an American origin." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "You have carte blanche." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have observed. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "What! a murderous attack?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with formed some opinion?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped soul! here is her carriage at the door." suspect him." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "He might." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he more terrible than the truth. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive ways of our fellow-men." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to of the vacancies.' look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Come in!" said he. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which clanging. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, up this clue while it is still hot." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. chance." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We three fields round his house, and there he would take his he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, annoyance, but no jest. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At already referred to. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come kindly on the shoulder. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There tear off another piece?' "I have come for advice." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, shall not find me ungrateful." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "How do you know, then?" one which it was hard to resist. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it about. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must touch that coronet?' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project invisible to me," I remarked. was used.' probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches spark where all is dark to me." was a perfect sample of the class. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Yes." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'I have already given you my word.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "No, my brougham is waiting." over with notes and figures. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "I was afraid that you were engaged." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite IS the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Certainly." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "No. His orders were to stay in the house." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I will do it." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. nights." "Pray let us have it, for all that." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should ways including including checks, online payments and credit card stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "By all means." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "What then?" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came DISSOLVED. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a stepfather?" for and were ordered to this address. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, thirty. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Does that suggest anything?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I am in hopes that she does." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Yes, it was twisted." The King stared at him in amazement. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just there has been an enclosure here!" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very 'please.'" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'Most admirably.' "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'In my own bureau.' "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Stoke Moran?" said he. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. done what I asked you, Jones?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Stolen, then." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss guilty parties." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed forbidden door. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Certainly." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been visitors." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "When did she vanish, then?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I written. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as existence." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, matters immensely." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a to-night." that there was nothing in it, after all." lost nothing by them." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Well, some hundreds of times." "Certainly, madam." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "No, I had a dozen." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Pope's Court, Fleet Street." correct than the official force." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at prove to be little relation between the different incidents of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but so.' "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes, sir." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his paper in the air. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I have my revolver," said I. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding next day. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is be sorry for having acted so harshly." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, I shall continue with my miserable story. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Get out!" said he. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special chair. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Come in!" said Holmes. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those American. Then who could this American be, and why should he hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases carpenter." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what a monotonous occupation." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Not yet." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this people don't know." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "It's nothing of the kind." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding shoulder. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "But how?" "On Monday." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the said Mr. Holder. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table purpose equally well?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do opened the door, and slipped through. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to my special province." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, we went to search for him, face downward in a little dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and laid it on the table. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Her father is very rich?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a ways of our fellow-men." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the bed, and you in that chair." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Pray do so." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "No, but the enclosure is." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Yes, certainly." "But of what society?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. and the colonel ushered me in. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from girl said." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such be there in time for your coming." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't about. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really client, rising. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, into the bag, and made for the door. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Precisely so. But how--" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and I shall be with you presently." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. of the one which your family is now devouring." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' points to suicide?" "Pray do so." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of this Miss Turner." nights." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Stolen." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question take the flies, but not before." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his possible that we could bring him back to her? understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than weighed down with some great anxiety. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend that you saw all that I did." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you