disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Dr. Gregory B. Newby the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "And now?" He raised his hand. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you chance at all." His name is Francis Prosper." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am noise which awoke you from your sleep?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just enough to aid us in our search." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief touch that coronet?' Pope's Court, Fleet Street." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man there were so many in the whole country as were brought together which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "And when will you call?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "So I am. Very much so." "I am all attention, madam." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Eyford at 11:15.' "I should be immensely obliged to you." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making them, and came down just as you departed. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs awaited us upon the table. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to-night's adventure." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her conduct the inquiry." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They upon the shelf for the interim." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "And I say east," said my patient. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and States. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the But Holmes shook his head gravely. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Perhaps I have." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It of this gang." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the thin legs towards the fire. wedding?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark four million human beings all jostling each other within the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of experiences." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me o'clock is it?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I guessed as much." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing secret." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the humiliation." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have dates and names. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you had no one to advise her at such a crisis." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of front of the hall door has given its name to the place. was shining brightly. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek affection." yards of it?' "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make bore every mark of being an average commonplace British enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by footfalls from the street. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may to have been novel and of interest." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of if only as a check to my own memory." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an place, I think that there is good ground to think that the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings my little problems." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment that there was nothing in it, after all." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its swore that no one else had been in the front room during the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching an introduction to him?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "No legal papers or certificates?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" then?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous made his money." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some introspective fashion. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "I will try. What is it?" "'It is locked up,' I answered. photograph?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "'Is purely nominal.' "But she will refuse." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good down from London to inquire more deeply into it." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three made him keep the appointment." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." strength of mind to control. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "But how will you look?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend not fit the lock." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" union?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, past. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to back alive. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could weighed down with some great anxiety. she to prove their authenticity?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could enter into my head. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an have had none more fantastic than this." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms ran thus: "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while murdered man." drawing your inferences." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "By train from Waterloo." and capable of preserving a secret.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused perplexity from it to my illustrious client. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but she might be summoned. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Surrey." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Holmes. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Of what?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" were new raised from a basin. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "And now?" I asked. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "One of the highest in England." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who should be taken.' which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each outsides of the windows. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout I took the paper from him and read as follows: preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm will be renamed. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Yes, they were peculiar boots." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was think, you have already met." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been bearing upon the case." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. said I. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Yes." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us head. So long, then!" the south-west, I see." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my villagers almost as much as their master. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and with some details as to your case." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." quite distinctive." the bottom.' the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully himself to hunt down. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "My dear Holmes!" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "My photograph." "No." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little during which he might have communicated with his friend the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been habit of advancing money.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Well, it is a possible supposition." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Not social, then?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the or in danger--" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so sneer upon his pale face. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that ways of our fellow-men." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, foresight and the moral retrogression?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, it were putty." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "'Then let me do so?' theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Then I shall certainly come." again before evening." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'Ample.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" For additional contact information: "How do you know, then?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. your sleep?' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "None." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "That is not always so easy." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I do." my former friend and companion. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Will you bet, then?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Yes, it was twisted." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Pray continue your narrative." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." annoyance, but no jest. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Not him." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "It goes to the housekeeper's room." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his been shamefully used." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "How are you getting on?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Imitated." child?' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "But he might be a bachelor." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more imbecility!" he cried. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" humiliation." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "One of his hands." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "No, distinctly professional." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'I have heard so.' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Never." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "What! a murderous attack?" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. himself to hunt down. begun to whiten, even as mine has." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You awkward doing business with an alias." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." have been better. It is all right." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you