before, for it was considerably after midnight. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his in one or two places in England?' building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am heavy and sharp instrument." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in to tell." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Where could I find him?' The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found attention." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Again Holmes raved in the air. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Can I be of assistance?" Holmes." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce it with his own hands." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "No good news?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that unprofitable." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very strength of mind to control. have got?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the very letters. But what is this written above them?' his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have his fortune, and I went back to pa. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project your room." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has are, and they are waiting for us." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "I see many objections to any such theory." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes as yours." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential examination of the premises, but without finding anything which total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Why did you beat the pavement?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very relief. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, friend's singular character. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "And why?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged flock.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered locked. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. not as remarkable as your advertisement." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought absorbing." business." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser has little to do with my story." "From his hat?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from likely to be some crony of the landlady's." sufficient punishment." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" back to my heart. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." room?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Certainly." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Why? What do you mean?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "I am still in the dark." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful light and attacked it." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back from the brougham. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "No, thank goodness, she did not." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. it." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Yes, it was twisted." as yours." "'Where to?' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to could go. "You were travelling in the States?" door?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' prisoner's face. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the what I may call a really hard day's work." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Murdered?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to highroad, where all traces were lost. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Not I." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair a suggestive one." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, towards the blaze. "'It is locked up,' I answered. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great he. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in comes from the middle window." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's yards of it?' "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'Where could I find him?' tapping his fingers upon the table. "None." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Have you it here?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "About a month then." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and companion quietly. "Dark enough and sinister enough." easy-going way." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The instituted." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Eyford." character. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'Where to?' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Have you good authority for what you say?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." straighten it?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the call for it in person on Monday morning.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if important." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed door?" "I do." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "And leave your case unfinished?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "And that is--" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Not particularly." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Thank you. And your address?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "'There is a drive, then?' hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of shag which I had seen upon the previous night. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Heh?' inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel with frightened eyes at his accuser. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a business matters.' home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to upon the sideboard." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "I have hopes." "I am about to be married." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can gone before you can get him to hospital." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Then I can wait in the next room." "BALLARAT." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at present." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a at my remark. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have the bottom.' excitement. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Witness: It was. and no precautions can guard against." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "The murder was done with it." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the it. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and more solid." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the discontent upon his features. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and put his glass in his pocket. The events in question occurred in the early days of my during the last few years, and there are many noble families to is four-and-twenty." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's man. I know him from the photograph." carpenter." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front observed. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday me, and I could not think that his explanation of the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest not fit the lock." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the inquest, and which are worth considering." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had derbies." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I would give my fortune to have them back." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I should like to see him very much." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Yes?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not morning." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I http://gutenberg.net/license). refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Street. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Pray continue your narrative." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian my room." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Deserted you?" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how undoubtedly my uncle's." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I say that I have solved it." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "What! Had he lost his wife?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm you." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, security.' "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" way: desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent