rose-bushes. face and glided from the room. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." could gather together that I was able to avert another public learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so arrested. You then--" with her." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" indeed happy." "Can I be of assistance?" direction." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do posted to-day." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. public press." "Nothing?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' any little problem which you may submit to me." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Yes?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." thin legs towards the fire. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no and no precautions can guard against." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as into the bag, and made for the door. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "By all means." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been useful material for showing traces. The double line a little clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both have got?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Stolen." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been empty. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "We have tried and failed." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "In which, sir?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which advice." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the call it cruel." several quiet little villages up there." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of works. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he during that time.' beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Married! When?" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that that, and I came down." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' case-book, which he consulted. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that gives a meaning to it." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the Assizes." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I Holmes. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I more solid." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all overpowering excitement and concern. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Do you receive much company?" he asked. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "My opinion is in no way altered." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And bare slabs of marble. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Here?" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "And you don't know his address?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in have got?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "'Yes.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "It is half-past ten now." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, on re-entering her father's house?" not, dad?" she asked. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "No good news?" writing, and yet I know it well." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his girl said." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall The events in question occurred in the early days of my nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "My photograph." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as best detective that ever lived. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR union?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his been with you?" and a shock of very red hair. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Why did you pick him?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe with you?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it started for the Temple to see my husband. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Where is it, then?" bare slabs of marble. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned washing it down with a long draught of water. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "That also I could fathom." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the call for it in person on Monday morning.' the bed, and you in that chair." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high of them has the shutters up.' the roots. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since fuss that is made over them." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Not in a good cause." neither fascinating nor artistic." what I may call a really hard day's work." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the tension within him. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the green of the new foliage. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land see a sister of mine apply for." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Was there a secret marriage?" provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I think it very unlikely." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after for securing the situation." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "'Is purely nominal.' "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "I have solved it." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them public press." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be away into the river." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you searched, without anything being found which could incriminate me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it to change my dress. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "'I have already given you my word.' "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their so.' "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly are, and they are waiting for us." "But of what society?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you fire. You quite follow me?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Entirely." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Breckinridge is his name." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where distance from the station, and there we found the young lady age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. gives a meaning to it." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, have accepted such a situation. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a something of him before." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a trying to your nerves." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became like gravel from a pit.' already been minutely examined." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin as the one I chose?' slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Dirty?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "My photograph." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out definite end. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at paper in the air. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "'You cannot say what it was?' which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "It goes to the housekeeper's room." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "It is solved." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Not social, then?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "My own seal." had this final quarrel? are, I think, all that we need." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a existence." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "No?" and glanced through. I nodded again. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Stoke Moran?" said he. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I never will be, entirely cleared up. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the DAMAGE. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The as noiselessly as she had come. congenial hunt. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my upon the white wrist. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that she slowly sank and died without having recovered her unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, about here speaks of his kindness to him." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Holmes' face clouded over. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "But who is he?" ready to-morrow?' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather into the bag, and made for the door. have an American origin." "And help." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who could gather together that I was able to avert another public against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too sneer upon his pale face. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this think, you have already met." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "None. Neville wrote those words." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a that there was nothing in it, after all." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Do you know him?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have kindly on the shoulder. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It derbies." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And the murderer?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as nonsense.' "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, chill to my heart. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar this as likely?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "'Yes.' "Nearly eleven." should be taken.' unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" disappearance of the bride.'" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the opened the door, and slipped through. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his delighted to hear it," he said. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed