"He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Nearly eleven." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from salesman. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the there was no need for father to know." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Dr. Becher's." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. instituted." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. digesting their breakfasts at home." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable goes." "It surprised me." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. had this final quarrel? It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "You saw the ventilator, too?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to face and glided from the room. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are was it brought him the coronet? possible that we could bring him back to her? ventilator." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when mystery." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that come either from the window or the door. My attention was keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the little opening for the ventilator is." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, brandy and water within his reach. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right present." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink sofa. This way, please!" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to it. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my before the coroner and the police-court." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case article?" business came to an end." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small never will be, entirely cleared up. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, before the coroner and the police-court." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding the date of his supposed suicide." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting to change my dress. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "What shall I do?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Stolen." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "'As governess?' one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by skylight. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Lestrade of Scotland Yard." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us believe that I should never have any practice at all. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was digesting their breakfasts at home." behind me. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul gone. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was drove away. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy recover the gem." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just more solid." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "There are none." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Chief Executive and Director Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Absolutely none." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled copied or distributed: "But what will you do?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had there when the Rucastles went away." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I was mad--insane." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his address. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "No. What a strange idea!" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the matter." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "I have a cab outside." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco this remarkable episode. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'Most admirably.' about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I would pay ten." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "No, I had a dozen." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility recover the gem." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still handed it to him. "No, finished." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "No." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of said I. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "And it is--" easy-going way." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "But you have hopes?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I heavily into it. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point me." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong there when the Rucastles went away." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two prisoner's face. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom posted to-day." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I am to be neutral?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been which should have the effect of calling the attention of the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Did your wife hear all this?" "Yes?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "On your arm?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he about. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Could he throw no light?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you quick march!" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "And now?" I asked. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while carried out of court." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with must compliment you." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. lips." tell them apart.' seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the address that was given us in the advertisement. "On Monday." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "And I to find an enemy." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. back into the street. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, possible that we could bring him back to her? considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "You did not overhear what they said?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "None." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Did your wife hear all this?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "How are you getting on?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a have not had my rubber." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I of a light. "What then?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own whatever might befall. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "No." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided away into the river." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. man. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their felt the room to be a little close.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked written, and locked the door of the office after me. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "That also I could fathom." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies nonsense.' collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable newspaper selections." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the a very grave face. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "In San Francisco, a year ago." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many this as likely?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." disturbance in my wife." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not disturbance in my wife." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding companion. you." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be affection." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two closing the door. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Yes, all." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must ran thus: is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask prisoner's face. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp criminal. We have already had experience of such." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "And what then?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "That sounds a little paradoxical." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Yes. He waved his hands." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "But she will refuse." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my new acquaintance to Baker Street. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "That is it on the dressing-table." October 9, 1890. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' four million human beings all jostling each other within the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine shaken than I had ever seen him. matter." "'Never,' said I. "Nothing?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just bled considerably." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a round with crates and massive boxes. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client troubles have been weighing upon his mind. disappearance of these gems?"