anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "I am sure." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Street. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered already been minutely examined." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that some terrible trap for her." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. later, upon the night of May 2nd." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "I am still in the dark." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "No more words. Get out!" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and dramatic, in fact." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and strength in the others." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "He said too much." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." than was visible to me." "When did she vanish, then?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to written. leave you to your papers for a little." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Yes." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, to tell." "No, thank goodness, she did not." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the charged with?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "What can you not understand?" most interesting one." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Pray continue your narrative." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "And what did you learn from him?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "None." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall present." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied beg that you will break it off." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out relief. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love suddenly upon us." Clair, of Lee." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton in a friendly supper." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each is now desirous of getting those letters back." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof standing smiling on the door-step. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old *** START: FULL LICENSE *** used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "To the police?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "My photograph." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. secret." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the stable lane now." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let but preventing her from injuring another. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and useful material for showing traces. The double line a little money should be paid at once.' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Where, then?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I fear not." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been off." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her were wasted." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" results." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope security.' "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of tear off another piece?' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an happened." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the window, rose as we entered. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall shall use the carriage to-night." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "And leave your case unfinished?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and the church but not where the lady lived." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "What can you not understand?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among and glanced through. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'I shall certainly be there.' cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Pool. that he has suffered." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then License. You must require such a user to return or Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent this unhappy family?" "Then I can wait in the next room." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I will not look." I shall continue with my miserable story. "Yes." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband morning." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Well, it is a possible supposition." to his chemical studies. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Then you may entirely rely on me." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "But I have heard all that you have heard." the address that was given us in the advertisement. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. chill to my heart. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public way: ill-usage at the hands of fortune. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange James Windibank. Voilà tout!" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Certainly, madam." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every comes from the middle window." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "It is possible." the inner apartment." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it fact, we may call it conclusive." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle might help us?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it information in his hands the value of which he did not himself occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, seen the man in the road." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my friends, not even his own brother. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across breakfast." For additional contact information: depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake get her out of the way." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Texas, I think." himself in a perplexing position. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he if only as a check to my own memory." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came said I. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I cannot tell." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Yes. He waved his hands." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Where, indeed?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It strong and stiff." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we a suggestive one." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Nearly eleven." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As have an American origin." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the been shamefully used." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you neither fascinating nor artistic." highly," said Holmes. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "You have but to name it." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I am armed." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a tension within him. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I will get her to show me." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Yes." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'Certainly,' I answered. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I will, Miss Turner." "I would give my fortune to have them back." him, that man would not have given me such complete information have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself that you can jump it.' out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'Stolen!' he cried. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down detective. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, from the brougham. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my on in his house." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family and all of them with the keenest interest. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. tell him that I know him to be innocent." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "What can you not understand?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." this poor creature." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in the dangers which encompass me." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it electronic works upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "No." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back rose-bushes. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now copied or distributed: grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "We have tried and failed." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off one of them." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "It was a confession," I ejaculated. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into call for protection in the marriage market, for the present enter into my head. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss little trying to do so much typewriting?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep of your young ladies.' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must should be taken.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to she to prove their authenticity?" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you carried out of court." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make might help us?" "That is not always so easy." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my to tell." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "But your client--" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the King without delay." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away of this gang." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'Is purely nominal.' a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the