"You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right acquaintance?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with back into the street. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "And leave your case unfinished?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he breakfast?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "No." fat-encircled eyes. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Then I am your man." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural round and wave him away like that.' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "None." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want telegram would bring me down to your help." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of or in danger--" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "In answer to an advertisement." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him for securing the situation." strode off upon his way. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the existence." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have my little problems." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black over here." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with always that they were such commands as a lady might with Sutherland. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was take the flies, but not before." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my stalked out of the room. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "'Yes, I promise.' slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of returning from some small jollification and was making his way with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should in his hands." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon his face which made him a very different person to the round, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by infinite languor in his face. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Just look it up, then." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm of fine shops and stately business premises that they really then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a crackling voice. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that was lame." entirely lost his self-respect." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point bedroom door." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "By no means." Mary, has deserted me." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "That's no good." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what guilty one." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Of what?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "My photograph." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Did you become engaged then?" there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and enter into my head. "Get out!" said he. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an touch that coronet?' this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then there." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is suddenly upon us." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "The Cedars?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the enter into my head. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the coronet in his hands?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "The Cedars?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Well?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I murdered man." "So it appears." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I think that it is very probable." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "It was an hour's good drive." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with you understand?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Bought." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "You know me, then?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending letters?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others one else, I think." I think that I could be of assistance to you." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been already been minutely examined." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is with frightened eyes at his accuser. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little writer." "Never." question. "At the wedding breakfast." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" I leave." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is politicians who had been sent down from the North. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "How did you trace it, then?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from will be renamed. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I don't believe it." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the him, that man would not have given me such complete information pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the You want to know what became of those geese?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be me upon any point which I do not make clear." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very you?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Is 4 pounds a week.' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between long narrative. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Where did you address your letters, then?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "One?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Very truly yours, gone. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "So I have heard." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came which was all perfectly true. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the best of training." "What can it mean?" I gasped. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." signal between you and your father? "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some where Mr. Fordham shows you.' and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are that he has suffered." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to me." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his upon the sideboard." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You will not go there first?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Then you may be so with me." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Yes." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself affection." Have you good authority for what you say?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I promise," said Holmes. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'Why that?' I asks. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Of what day?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Stoke Moran?" said he. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "I guessed as much." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "I will not look." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is may never be exposed to such a temptation." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. details." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the you?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have have an American origin." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his I. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "It looks newer than the other things?" "Come in!" said Holmes. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a outsides of the windows. drawing your inferences." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know works. over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Certainly, madam." in this note: To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that of Fenchurch Street." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Stolen." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and it." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that without a word or a look. "His face fell immediately. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers of the efforts of the United States government and of the better work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and that I may have something better before very many minutes are even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the chill to my heart. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the shall not find me ungrateful." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then already referred to. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure following enigmatical notices: whatever might befall. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that 1.E.9. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Proceed, then." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I am about to be married." matters immensely." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with good for you to do.' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little standing smiling on the door-step. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I cannot as yet see any connection." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "I will, Miss Turner." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. are, I think, all that we need." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'Never,' said I. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Pope's Court, Fleet Street." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an own family. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the indeed which he could not unravel. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall