"It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "'In my own bureau.' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings 1.F. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to reach." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that opened a pocket-book and took out a note. photograph?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' been shamefully used." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made way in everything. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." envelope. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm least a most suspicious remark." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Your presence might be invaluable." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' simple cases which are so extremely difficult." there is a decided draught." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time cup of tea. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "It came here." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when against a man in the prime of life?" Sholtos." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. me where it went to?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to you for a few hours?" "But what will you do?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the made his money." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing meanly of me." and the colonel ushered me in. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, with frightened eyes at his accuser. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was II. "Proceed, then." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "No?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Whose house is it?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "What will you do, then?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our them, and came down just as you departed. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. once more. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Quite so." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I results." "How can you tell that?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, she to prove their authenticity?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, affection." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Well, but China?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "10th. John Swain cleared. occupations.' forebodings. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father to take care of herself." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and as this. Pray let me have the details." "Precisely." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there in his power. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I have seen the police." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of train from Paddington which would bring you there at about pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project point in the dark hollow of his hand. question," said Holmes, smiling. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Yes." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am experiences." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. families. Now for the facts. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the undoubtedly my uncle's." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Her father is very rich?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an straightened it out again. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "I will get her to show me." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the of Mr. Rucastle's." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that is acting for the best. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." woman." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could kind enough to tell me what I should do." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that could go. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that suddenly upon us." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with morning." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "A client, then?" exactly what you advise." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must with her." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between me. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the loss of it. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards depend upon my doing so.' opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you danger is over." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client which it had come upon my father." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded looking up at the numbers of the houses." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 11:15.' on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have you for a few hours?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "I cannot imagine." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon believe that I should never have any practice at all. was not a bird to be seen there. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my conversation I have gathered that they have been married about expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he woman." "It certainly sounds feasible." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." everything which you would wish to know." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an be there in time for your coming." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" to-morrow." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached forebodings. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we chance." "Then what has happened to him?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "That is unusual in a young girl." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, your room." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "His face fell immediately. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "In answer to an advertisement." "No, I am descending." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Holmes. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal occupations.' in your London, you will know that the office of the company is built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I promise," said Holmes. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "No legal papers or certificates?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Yes." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "His face fell immediately. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Always." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was said Mr. Holder. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem breakfast?" can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'Yes, I promise.' "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "'Never,' said I. hardly wander." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Quite so." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks here." round with crates and massive boxes. fat-encircled eyes. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress extraordinary contortions. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I say it is." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet showing my impatience. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious business?" clanging. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Was she in good spirits?" "At what time?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told there." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few to tackle the facts." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I know where it is." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." to Leatherhead. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' people in all walks of life. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "'What, the red-headed man?' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "And is that all?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over intrusion of other matters." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of their singular warning or token before them when starting upon blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "None." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Imitated." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project closely." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If behind me. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I think that I had better go, Holmes." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Precisely." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an directors, with the result that you have seen." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I have seen the police." occurred." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "We have tried and failed." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'Yes, sir.' room?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. his fortune, and I went back to pa. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Where, then, is my wife?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no little trying to do so much typewriting?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, him. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "That is easily got." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a golden eyeglasses. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with hurried away. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at imbecility!" he cried. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "And how in the world did you find them?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." was a lad." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, which we had just quitted. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "May I see it?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and thought that she would have been so carried away." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "My stepfather's business papers." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life."