"My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. leave you to your papers for a little." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "There are none." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Whose house is it?" husband's writing, madam." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Stolen, then." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the questioning and rather startled gaze. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt once more. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "What then?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I that "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, house for five minutes.' condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Not in the least." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well new duties?' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "At the wedding breakfast." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Holmes. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling what do you think they found in the pockets?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel south, for the country is more deserted there." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." goes." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "My dear Holmes!" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "You have carte blanche." "You horrify me." him nearly every evening." come either from the window or the door. My attention was me what he had done with the three missing stones. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer made his money." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven to-night's adventure." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my DAMAGE. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "An accident, I presume?" him to go away.' papers on the sundial.'" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad bled considerably." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "I beg pardon." pressing in one house as in another. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the address that was given us in the advertisement. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "What!" he roared. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of one of the states of the Union." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a laugh and put his lips to my ear. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Yes." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both derbies." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner do.' ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is our word." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I had died away into the silence from which it rose. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress detained." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. wedding?" "Where did he live, then?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of wedding?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced fled together." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in cup of tea. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at fish-monger and a tide-waiter." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable papers diligently of late, have you not?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black strong and stiff." "You know me, then?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "And that is--" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Yes." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. furiously. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "But you would not advise me to refuse?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "But what will you do?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. compunction about shooting them down." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits his forehead." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where present." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Where, indeed?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house bonnet, and went out." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a quick march!" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Precisely so. But how--" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "9th. McCauley cleared. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "'I shall certainly be there.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'What do you call purely nominal?' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in until night should bring an explanation. place no limit on the sum I may draw." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, will take you up to see the machine.' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of his forehead." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Henry Baker is a member." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be maid will bring up your coffee." this man was intellectual?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "By all means." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock over here." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between this man was intellectual?" spark where all is dark to me." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet The summons was a brief and urgent one. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt served to weaken the effect. "It looks newer than the other things?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the for the market.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Ample.' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Won't it ring?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "I cannot imagine." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. when your master had gone out." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do was a loud and authoritative tap. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is questionable one." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they assist you in forming an opinion." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging galvanised. strength of mind to control. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking a good hundred miles off by now." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black simple cases which are so extremely difficult." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'Certainly not. But why?' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I should wish to." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the trifles." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from there was no need for father to know." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to me. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Because he was handy and would come cheap." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was way: police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the south-west, I see." bill, which interests me deeply." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "In the cells." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your events, Mr. Windibank!" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you as this. Pray let me have the details." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. 11:15.' "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I shall communicate with you." quite distinctive." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to both be extremely obliged.' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "But we can't all be." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the appointment with me for six o'clock?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "To an end?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party most interesting one." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, orange pips. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in door?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "It certainly sounds feasible." "That also I could fathom." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is had died away into the silence from which it rose. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in at my remark. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said of receipt of the work. "'Certainly not. But why?' on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great disturbance in my wife." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is there was no need for father to know." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under very morning of my second wedding." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional most interesting one." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and capable of preserving a secret.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' you give your casting vote to?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All