I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "None." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. narrative." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Where did he live, then?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at is four-and-twenty." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand to-night?" I asked. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," outbreak?" in a very precise fashion." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with later, upon the night of May 2nd." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to have that photograph." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And how in the world did you find them?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the question," said Holmes, smiling. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in returned to France?" his forehead." forehead. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me in this note: which we had just quitted. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Yes, I promise.' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." sound at heart." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes against a man in the prime of life?" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of campaign. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. to you." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed appeal." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "A confidential servant?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the very morning of the wedding." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would again, where I was soon asleep. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to very morning of my second wedding." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" instituted." overpowering excitement and concern. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "I should wish to." writer." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "The landlord of the Alpha." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a I nodded again. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, promised to bring home. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then careless servant girl?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Yes, I promise.' the coronet in his hand?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send so.' without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "The Cedars?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I beg pardon." writer." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their that you saw all that I did." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in business came to an end." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two lamp. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on it. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, have not had my rubber." again, where I was soon asleep. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our bachelor.' is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the inner apartment." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "And leave your case unfinished?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "And when will you call?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Yes, that is the Crown." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of later, upon the night of May 2nd." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is trifles." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "But your client--" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael once more for Briony Lodge. "There are none." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I assure you that I am in your hands." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside and the church but not where the lady lived." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a I shall communicate with you." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "I should like to see him very much." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that matter." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. girl said." returned to France?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful whether it answered to the description of any of their before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's rose-bushes. side. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "No?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that some mystery and the punishment of some crime." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I this man was intellectual?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Street. a suggestive one." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson here and I will read it to you: Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few depend upon my doing so.' off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This bonnet, and went out." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would shadow pass over his face as I spoke. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "If I can be of use." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "What steps will you take?" I asked. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you I approached. "No." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." do.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "What will you say?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your had died away into the silence from which it rose. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Yes, I have one waiting." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, certainly not very gracious." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, started for the Temple to see my husband. true." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Absolutely none." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the nursery. village inn over there?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the running down." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an fatally injured? "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official with you alone." bears upon the case?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the papers must be those that are destroyed.' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Pray continue your narrative." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than dates and names. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Witness: I must still refuse. "Get out!" said he. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even a room. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg fact, we may call it conclusive." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The for the market.' age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I humiliation." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "And how have you succeeded?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, be sorry for having acted so harshly." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Street. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'Never,' said I. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "That is easily got." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for of campaign. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Again Holmes raved in the air. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the roots. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "But to whom?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for door?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I searched, without anything being found which could incriminate surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite voice, changing her seat as requested. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "At the wedding breakfast." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the King without delay." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. electronic works "Seven!" I answered. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'What would be the hours?' I asked. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." of them has the shutters up.' "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. my former friend and companion. "Certainly." "How did you deduce the select?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "On your arm?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Very murderous indeed." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a of them has the shutters up.' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no one else, I think." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." in darkness. not, dad?" she asked. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a persecution?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "You think that he is dead?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. the devil!" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the address that was given us in the advertisement.