"It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Where is it, then?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell at my own good fortune. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with bedroom door." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Here?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "You did not overhear what they said?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were to talk it over. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "And how did you verify them?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by I held the little printed slip to the light. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of highly," said Holmes. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has woman who has had her own way to make in the world. kindly on the shoulder. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a them present such singular features as the strange train of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'I have heard so.' recover the gem." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped of receipt of the work. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I foresight and the moral retrogression?" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should have accepted such a situation. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it not use it unless it is absolutely needed." joking. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I name is different." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a completely overtopped every other consideration that we both month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Why did you pick him?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would that you wished to speak to me?' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Do you receive much company?" he asked. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the not personally threatened." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "It must be recovered." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, light and attacked it." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar instituted." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "And who is her maid?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive waste of energy." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "What?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Ten will be early enough." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but of the one which your family is now devouring." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Can I be of assistance?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "No?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Not social, then?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it amused." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." three of the beryls in it, was missing. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of pound a week." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Yes." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any them, and came down just as you departed. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, if she died from some sudden fright." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a events, Mr. Windibank!" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "It is his hat." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "'Yes, sir.' "'Oh, no.' "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was your room." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "I saw her in conversation with her maid." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport criminal. We have already had experience of such." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "And your mother is alive?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting indeed happy." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near over with notes and figures. "Yesterday." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "His face fell immediately. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I have solved it." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a ourselves in the office." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ that he has suffered." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "No, I am descending." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "None. Neville wrote those words." the house with me." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I came to find a friend." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My manager. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he tell him that I know him to be innocent." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "And the murderer?" arrangements." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Sutherland. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Thank you. And your address?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. as noiselessly as she had come. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Arthur Conan Doyle burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Nearly eleven." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of 'please.'" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door straightened it out again. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, over with notes and figures. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my were unconscious?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and glanced through. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so ceremony." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "And the cigar-holder?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, up this clue while it is still hot." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the window, rose as we entered. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry I leave." "'Most admirably.' "The gentleman I describe." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect his huge brown hands. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not a suggestive one." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "We must have a cab." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His garden below. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which drove away. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Quite so." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear depend upon your compliance." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel is a common subject for conversation. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "In what way?" asked Holmes. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, own family. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I official police." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Absolutely none." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself fait accompli?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear American. Then who could this American be, and why should he been." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "And why in hopes?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and I shall be with you presently." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love breakfast." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having learned something! Where are the gems?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom said he at last. "Perhaps we may make them less so." 11:15.' giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger business came to an end." whereabouts. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his quickly through a disagreeable task. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." directly by questioning you." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an is acting for the best. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 lamp. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Yes, there are nearly always some there." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's you found me to-night--and running through the front room she were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business page at http://pglaf.org dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let upon the sideboard." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing