congenial hunt. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered colonel looking down at me. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "But who is he?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press all that?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "My dear Holmes!" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the iron safe, which he closed upon it. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of taking in every detail of the apartment. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Perhaps we may make them less so." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "That is not always so easy." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you little trying to do so much typewriting?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. directly by questioning you." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Was he the only applicant?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his nonsense.' "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his bled considerably." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which business matters.' excitement. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the stable lane now." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to hand, madam?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "No, my brougham is waiting." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "It looks newer than the other things?" astonishment. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most hard-headed British jury." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The nonsense.' "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' unprecedented a position." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began is worth.' indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "No legal papers or certificates?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I than was visible to me." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I say that I have solved it." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It events, Mr. Windibank!" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. yourselves in at night?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains here." "Not yet." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I happened." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John ago." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, take the flies, but not before." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her you in yours." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. you." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this started for the Temple to see my husband. enter Dr. Roylott's room." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Nothing." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts quick march!" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Leadenhall Street--and--" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Was he the only applicant?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. me upon any point which I do not make clear." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Street. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very mystery." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added were new raised from a basin. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was your only hope of safety." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the charged with?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' himself to tell his story. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet I approached. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and vague figure huddled up in the darkness. not personally threatened." man. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "On the contrary, this is the right side." certainly do as you advise." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I will do it." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "That you are never beaten." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his corner of the building. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little me what he had done with the three missing stones. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "None. Neville wrote those words." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in light and attacked it." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to You want to know what became of those geese?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Stolen, then." own family. death." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting is worth.' dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be call you and give you the chance." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "By train from Waterloo." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his instituted." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I cannot imagine." "I have seen the police." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "And leave your case unfinished?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable written. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I cannot think." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in generous with you in money matters.' brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "But his left-handedness." and looked back. "Dr. Becher's." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and better grown goose." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "And it is--" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, McCarthy's innocence. enough to aid us in our search." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "The gentleman I describe." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to his forehead." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "My own seal." thirty. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and for securing the situation." furiously. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "No, finished." been." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and files of the old papers, following the future career of every confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey This is what he says: question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "But you can know nothing of this?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock which should have the effect of calling the attention of the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked is," said he presently: "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Not I." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. together. fact, we may call it conclusive." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter to tackle the facts." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home questioning and rather startled gaze. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the there when the Rucastles went away." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "And it is--" laugh and put his lips to my ear. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward that I can to serve you." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "From his hat?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a night.' said he. his wife has ceased to love him." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Stolen, then." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main directors, with the result that you have seen." the ceiling. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Well, but China?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the driver. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, It may be so in this case, also." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales obstinate." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or companion imperturbably. "Yes." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will could go. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed go back?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "You horrify me." clanging. front of me. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the derbies." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies crackling voice. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had in a friendly supper." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Then the page we have seen--" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing in my life." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed hurried by. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the maiden herself was most instructive." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He that I am arrested." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, McCarthy." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is yards of it?' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every mystery!" you." better in every way that they should make their position a little confronted him. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was over with notes and figures. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it a room. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "I don't believe it." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "We must have a cab." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "And how did you find out?" vanished into the darkness. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in The events in question occurred in the early days of my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open has little to do with my story." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "No." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is his grey eyes. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really