return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "In the cells." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall is a common subject for conversation. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Dark enough and sinister enough." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "9th. McCauley cleared. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly populous neighbourhood." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Never to return." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had for the market.' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this have not had my rubber." unprecedented a position." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be this truth that in these little records of our cases which you and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Won't it ring?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, like that before?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'There is a drive, then?' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "By all means." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into bore every mark of being an average commonplace British must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how should be so warm over such a trifle." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, to tell." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Yes, certainly." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I was afraid that you were engaged." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the were wasted." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. together. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to bell. Holmes whistled. detective. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "You did not overhear what they said?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the driver. "It is possible." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three of campaign. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with absorbing." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "There are none." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the Red-headed League." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "And the cigar-holder?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day girl said." "This concluded the examination of the witness." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Again Holmes raved in the air. "I was afraid that you were engaged." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "The King of Scandinavia." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. said I. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were was a perfect sample of the class. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "What! Had he lost his wife?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in him." again on its way. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Of what day?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the very morning of the wedding." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "A confidential servant?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "My dear Holmes!" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "No." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" south, for the country is more deserted there." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I am armed." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." mystery." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond this unhappy family?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some best detective that ever lived. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately our word." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Awake, Watson?" he asked. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less be sorry for having acted so harshly." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking side. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and approach us with offers to donate. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in developed." place of silver." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Dirty?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were to tackle the facts." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "The Cedars?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that careless servant girl?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Is he quiet?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. the side-table." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes, sir." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work than to us. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, point in the dark hollow of his hand. meant." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the correct than the official force." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay room had already been engaged for us. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is round with crates and massive boxes. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Why serious?" awaited us upon the table. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin to his chemical studies. papers on the sundial.'" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "How did you trace it, then?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body helping a boy to put up the shutters. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "But his left-handedness." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after formed some opinion?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob upon the sideboard." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "How did you trace it, then?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "By no means." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "And you can do nothing until then?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. my little problems." indiscretion." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I II. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, was not a bird to be seen there. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's that I can to serve you." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with whole matter to your consideration." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over But Holmes shook his head gravely. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Then you may entirely rely on me." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to never to learn it at all." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'Ten to two.' "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from grasp, he hurried from the room. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see compunction about shooting them down." himself. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she your troubles." to take care of herself." "He said that you could solve anything." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" of it with the greatest attention. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A I was concerned in it." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Yes." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "It came here." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could place of silver." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "But I have heard all that you have heard." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'And the work?' "And what then?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "That also I could fathom." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." enough to aid us in our search." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in believe that I should never have any practice at all. the coronet at all injured?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "None. Neville wrote those words." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, the very morning of the wedding." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen morning." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which as this. Pray let me have the details." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to weighed down with some great anxiety. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is cause to be." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. infinite languor in his face. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man so.' comes from the middle window." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for