in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Imitated." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "A call for help, you thought?" directly by questioning you." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "And what did you learn from him?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or signal between you and your father? "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical to tackle the facts." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid weary and pale-looking. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. new duties?' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Absolutely?" a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Precisely." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "And why in hopes?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when Gutenberg-tm License. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a straighten it?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I answered that I had not. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the little opening for the ventilator is." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when remarked. you want, then?' word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'And the work?' the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to the morning and make my own way in the world.' not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had absolutely follow my advice in every respect." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Dirty?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his appeared upon the scene." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the not, dad?" she asked. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then narrative." the inner apartment." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, strong and stiff." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door one which it was hard to resist. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily make me his representative both with the servants and with the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "And your father? Did you tell him?" "10th. John Swain cleared. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be enter into my head. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "One of his hands." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. go--none." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." prison!" "So I have heard." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called she to prove their authenticity?" which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, crime. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Deserted you?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, bled considerably." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks your only hope of safety." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do foot. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Bought." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Holmes rather sternly. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "'Why that?' I asks. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Yes." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it place, I think that there is good ground to think that the key turn in the lock." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "10th. John Swain cleared. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Well, it is a possible supposition." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only dramatic, in fact." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." for its centre. danger is over." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her you in yours." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was six. Come in!" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would But Holmes shook his head gravely. him to go away.' just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the salesman. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the inner apartment." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Was your sister dressed?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Yes." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him just ask you whether you had heard it.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "At half-wages, in fact." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any companion. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" flock.' One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search floor. newspaper selections." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Will you bet, then?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the just ask you whether you had heard it.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My tell me that you intended to go into harness." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and inquire as to the address." into the room. him to be an active member of the medical profession." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Is he quiet?" spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself article?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he it means?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'Yes, sir.' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth answer." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, business?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have beyond words. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind child?' asked. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there page at http://pglaf.org "Thank you. And your address?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." lost his Christmas dinner." "Yes." "Here?" think you a quite exceptional woman." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "You forget that I know nothing about it." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." enter into my head. any." least a fellow-countryman. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There behind me. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. 'please.'" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. outsides of the windows. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes is so. I know all about McCarthy." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of tail." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "They are typewritten," I remarked. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all that threaten you." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Street. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to outsides of the windows. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest disturbance in my wife." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Yes, certainly." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. must compliment you." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry again, where I was soon asleep. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but green of the new foliage. "Who by?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy that you wished to speak to me?' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked fattened it expressly for you.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. gigantic client. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "I know where it is." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us what these perils are?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." look dissatisfied." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "That is easily got." some water from a caraffe. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it already been minutely examined." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Certainly." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to God! What an exposure! What can I do?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Of what day?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Very. But will he see it?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest away into the river." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Yes, all." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the is now desirous of getting those letters back." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Precisely so. But how--" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "I have hopes." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom of note-paper. It read in this fashion: tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Countess of Morcar's?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. within hail.' stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's later, upon the night of May 2nd." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to used to be." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several nice household for a young lady." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Then I shall certainly come." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Was your sister dressed?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange stammered. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification all that?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning writers could invent nothing more crude." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a unprecedented a position." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. followed. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Will you bet, then?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a habit of advancing money.' "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'I am sure if I had known--'