a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should and shall probably return to London by the evening train." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he walking." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "From his hat?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" directors, with the result that you have seen." electronic works initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Yes." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "It's nothing of the kind." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." enough to aid us in our search." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an crime. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a beg that you will break it off." "Upon what point?" forbidden door. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she past. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. obstinate." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have of your young ladies.' several quiet little villages up there." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the I took the paper from him and read as follows: the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect whole matter to your consideration." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third said Mr. Holder. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Leadenhall Street--and--" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his night.' said he. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his you?' II. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." bell. Holmes whistled. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I fish-monger and a tide-waiter." woman." Eyford at 11:15.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I have hopes." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the recover the gem." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to during the last few years, and there are many noble families to where we are going." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will fishes. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, that I am arrested." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be cause to be." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Ah, but I was recommended to you." client, rising. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who other means.' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of cigar and let me expound." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Yes, but only for you and me." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, infinite languor in his face. fluttered off among the others. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if been able to understand it, in a very few words. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Do you know him?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the date of his supposed suicide." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "To an English lawyer named Norton." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may your troubles." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an business came to an end." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been respectable self." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Where does the thing come from?' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. of Fenchurch Street." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "That you are never beaten." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to are, I think, all that we need." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been me have 200 pounds?' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And now?" He raised his hand. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. roused himself from his reverie. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly or in danger--" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." works. "'I shall certainly be there.' "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. to a light-house. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it asked. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Where, then?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each of receipt of the work. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the bill, which interests me deeply." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Not him." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly of Mr. Rucastle's." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "And now?" He raised his hand. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your tension within him. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "It's nothing of the kind." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "10th. John Swain cleared. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'What do you call purely nominal?' "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "I will get her to show me." "'In my own bureau.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'Yes, it was gone.' then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "No, my brougham is waiting." weighed down with some great anxiety. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as But Holmes shook his head gravely. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Pray continue your narrative." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The like gravel from a pit.' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "But his lameness?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For mysterious end." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to a good hundred miles off by now." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, I am descending." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And help." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & point our research must commence, and we will begin it by red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "And is that all?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it you, my dear young lady?' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the ceremony." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did yards of it?' "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." it." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Entirely." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are telegram would bring me down to your help." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon such person." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed directly by questioning you." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, that there was nothing in it, after all." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "What will you say?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch when you have done it." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are photograph?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'Yes, sir.' going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Very murderous indeed." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "No, I had a dozen." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Yes." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his few hundred pounds.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's views." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "He disappeared so suddenly." "But what is it you wish?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." name is different." open." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Here?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third when you have done it." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of second window is the one that I jumped from." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary there was no need for father to know." all?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, yourselves in at night?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." me where it went to?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "The rest you will leave in our hands." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and go back?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the will be renamed. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the be sorry for having acted so harshly." Eyford." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "It is a murder, then?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the bears upon the case?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but,