Pope's Court, Fleet Street." what these perils are?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord affair. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady kindly on the shoulder. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Leadenhall Street--and--" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "What have you to say now?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Her father is very rich?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay next day. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the matter?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "How did you deduce the select?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. companion. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Yes." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted correct than the official force." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be may have an influence upon European history." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was characteristics, but those are the more obvious." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you lids now and glanced across at his visitor. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: said I. woven round him. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to from the brougham. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all so.' me upon any point which I do not make clear." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the 1.E.9. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Whose house is it?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; everything which you would wish to know." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's client, rising. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that legal crime." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "It is possible." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. arrested. You then--" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Yes?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between humiliation." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we right! Sit down and let us talk it over." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door character. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with there were one or two details which were new to me. But the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "It is very clear." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to in a friendly supper." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "It is no ordinary one." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, golden eyeglasses. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "'What, the red-headed man?' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and congratulate you again." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most the address that was given us in the advertisement. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and residence of the great financier. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his narrative." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Yes, I have one waiting." drawing your inferences." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Dark enough and sinister enough." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. do." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but of it with the greatest attention. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Never to return." criminal. We have already had experience of such." hour?' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure a room. read over the extraordinary announcement. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle into the bag, and made for the door. with frightened eyes at his accuser. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Not yet." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time you." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards infinite languor in his face. "It is no ordinary one." "What, then, did Peterson do?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at way in everything. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. crowd. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "My dear Holmes!" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong DAMAGE. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'You doubt its value?' he asked. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in four million human beings all jostling each other within the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. breakfast?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the very morning of the wedding." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He she has been waylaid. There has been no result." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Cross for the Continent." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net bore every mark of being an average commonplace British heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "From his hat?" have I gained?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Ha! you find it so?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the coronet at all injured?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give recall any case within my experience which looked at the first and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely do you make of it all?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "That you are never beaten." o'clock is it?" glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. you in your example." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I think it very unlikely." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and glanced through. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "But she could not love him." said Mr. Holder. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that status with the IRS. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. II. "Why, what do you mean?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "That is unusual in a young girl." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Will you bet, then?" "Stolen." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in look dissatisfied." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while his huge brown hands. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. is a common subject for conversation. get her out of the way." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "It is very clear." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill you." behind me. "Then what has happened to him?" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Witness: I must still refuse. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "None." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was The King stared at him in amazement. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor sneer upon his pale face. in darkness. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "It looks newer than the other things?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Then the page we have seen--" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "I am following you closely," I answered. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading friend's singular character. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "May I see it?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "One?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the inner apartment." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "None." from the brougham. his face. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Literary Archive Foundation some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. thin legs towards the fire. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water business." four million human beings all jostling each other within the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it floor. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Then I can wait in the next room." sneer upon his pale face. questioning and rather startled gaze. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for plantation.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have into the bag, and made for the door. 11:15.' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day roused himself from his reverie. the coronet in his hands?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when friends, not even his own brother. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "There are none." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Come in!" said Holmes. were wasted." "I cannot tell." "Could he throw no light?" "Do you go out much in society?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he an introduction to him?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the and that he would see to anything that turned up. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, once more to my work. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Not him." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "How did you trace it, then?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which out of this horrible affair." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always