before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Proceed, then." fuss that is made over them." I shall continue with my miserable story. to miss it." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked already been minutely examined." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, any little problem which you may submit to me." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Why serious?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking bled considerably." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed such attractions and accomplishments?' Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "But what harm can there be in that?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "My dear Holmes!" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at III. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. awaited us upon the table. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "What! You do not mean bodies?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a hair?' "'Most admirably.' the ceiling. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Countess of Morcar's?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "In answer to an advertisement." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Then the page we have seen--" mystery." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better quickly through a disagreeable task. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I then?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I cannot think." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a to Leatherhead. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a door?" answer." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a and glanced through. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold investigation." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with asked. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't address. "Texas, I think." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For From what you have told me I think that it is possible that had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." a suggestive one." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Pray do so." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord people don't know." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a secret." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. for the market.' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Dirty?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Murdered?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away death." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. secret." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in had a long day." Lee, in the county of Kent." the very morning of the wedding." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said ran thus: received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Was he the only applicant?" that you saw all that I did." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the general public were present, then?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose a suggestive one." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "And you don't know his address?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the papers diligently of late, have you not?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very some city in a dream. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project distance from the station, and there we found the young lady hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that What do you deduce from it?" away into the river." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. your own bird, so if you wish--" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have with the outside air!" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to in. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of learned something! Where are the gems?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are you." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole returned to France?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Foundation "But his left-handedness." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know had formerly been in part my own. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the learned something! Where are the gems?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that chill to my heart. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Yes, I promise.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. DAMAGE. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "He said too much." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of four million human beings all jostling each other within the interest. They are important, you understand, without being hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Just look it up, then." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "To an end?" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so colonel looking down at me. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and frequently gained my first real insight into the character of were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "My dear Holmes!" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time strong reason behind." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It own family. "Was the window open?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm bore every mark of being an average commonplace British THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the father's young wife. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the where we are going." business at Coburg Square is serious." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook room?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, habit of advancing money.' always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its hair?' then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Well, but China?" read over the extraordinary announcement. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps call you and give you the chance." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of annoyance, but no jest. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "No." good for you to do.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Yes, there are nearly always some there." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Certainly." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Very well, sir. And this stone?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Where, then?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Farm upon the left." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "My dear Holmes!" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "I shall be delighted." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and IS "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the tragedy. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door yourselves in at night?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "What of the rat, then?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the bell. Holmes whistled. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced of your young ladies.' would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and furiously. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie chance." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "So I heard. You have him here?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." vault. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "But the mystery?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "I answered that I had not. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "His face fell immediately. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Yes." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "My dear Holmes!" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." know what is wrong with it.' me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that where we are going." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, when you have done it." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "But you have hopes?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the to his chemical studies. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the papers diligently of late, have you not?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with your bag." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Your sister is dead, then?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two imbecility!" he cried. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen ways of our fellow-men." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "To the police?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'Yes.' Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of drawing your inferences." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a