One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to brandy and water within his reach. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had morning." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "But not more so than I to find you." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of or other trace. But how on earth--" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." 1.E.9. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Proceed, then." "This photograph!" "And what did you see?" green of the new foliage. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You forget that I know nothing about it." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "That is unusual in a young girl." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." delighted to hear it," he said. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be crime." was a lad." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "But you have hopes?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'Certainly not. But why?' shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I annoyance, but no jest. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that John Swain, of St. Augustine. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, already referred to. entirely devoid of interest." noble correspondent could be. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Did you become engaged then?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now you, my dear young lady?' "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I think that it is very probable." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and singular points about the case. What did the police think of the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. in his hands." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just and that he would see to anything that turned up. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We me. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "At the wedding breakfast." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and laid it on the table. "In the cells." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "What do you make of that, Watson?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "I am armed." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "What can it mean?" I gasped. the roots. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of where we are going." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the own family. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide words came to my lips. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not place of silver." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William meant it for the best. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't excitement. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but indeed happy." "But of what society?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "I will not look." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon and your relations to her." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "And how did you find out?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your man. copied or distributed: said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my forbidden door. "Your presence might be invaluable." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "'Why that?' I asks. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Absolutely none." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us interests were the same as his." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I don't believe it." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small to you." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Nothing?" showing my impatience. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be I held the little printed slip to the light. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, from Horsham." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Look there!" said he. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, giving me time to thank him. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them present." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project prison!" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has guilty one." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always to-night?" I asked. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "It came here." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the less than 26s. 4d. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "One of his hands." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Again Holmes raved in the air. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, in a very precise fashion." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring in this note: gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Where did you address your letters, then?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me me upon any point which I do not make clear." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss very morning of my second wedding." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only before the coroner and the police-court." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to he. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case pound a week." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "That's no good." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by followed. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "The doctor?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "An accident, I presume?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who place, I think that there is good ground to think that the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as again on its way. "I shall be delighted." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the at home. "What will you do, then?" "One?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "And you can do nothing until then?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "How many? I don't know." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the more terrible than the truth. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "And what did you learn from him?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little geese which you supplied to the Alpha." said he. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was again." what I may call a really hard day's work." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' shoulder; "he's all right." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "It must be recovered." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Dark enough and sinister enough." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the good-night and bustled off upon her way. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. hereditary King of Bohemia." a suggestive one." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon of his shoulders. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not bearing upon the case." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning than to us. "I see no marks." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into approach us with offers to donate. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "'Certainly,' I answered. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, think that he is innocent?" before the coroner and the police-court." "Yes." "And I to find an enemy." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually outsides of the windows. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." green of the new foliage. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'Yes, sir.' rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' speckled band?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case passage and a tap at the door. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, neither fascinating nor artistic." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I think it very unlikely." You want to know what became of those geese?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography British peeress.'" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips in my life." Holmes. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I do." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had his cane at the bell-pull. my former friend and companion. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I will not look." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I of a light. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, discontent upon his features. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Gutenberg-tm License. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting have got?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew intimate personal affairs in this public manner." will be renamed. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Get out!" said he. "But his left-handedness." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." must compliment you." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "I cannot imagine." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, not within a twentieth part of the market price." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced client, rising. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back see me here to avoid scandal." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of