"It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had ways including including checks, online payments and credit card been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "That sounds a little paradoxical." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "'Yes.' interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was and the church but not where the lady lived." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with DISSOLVED. the south-west, I see." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "ARAT," I read. here and I will read it to you: "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open ago." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "From his hat?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 tassel actually lying upon the pillow. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Yes, all." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to held up the lantern and gazed about him. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which side. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Holmes rather sternly. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' washing it down with a long draught of water. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "A call for help, you thought?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "But it has twice been burgled." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "What are they?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. against a man in the prime of life?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'Why that?' I asks. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Not him." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the King without delay." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it girl said." were new raised from a basin. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an returned to France?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "How did he come?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case my former friend and companion. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have from the brougham. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" The King stared at him in amazement. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so think that any burglar could have done. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Arthur Conan Doyle matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was everything which you would wish to know." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to know all about it," he snarled. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table death." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say footfalls from the street. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "It certainly sounds feasible." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet do you make of it all?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "And your father? Did you tell him?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution as the one I chose?' Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Married! When?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the hands. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by to change my dress. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Miss Holder?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is this unhappy family?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few It may be so in this case, also." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "The Cedars?" in this way: pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon morning." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran do.' crackling voice. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us use an arc-and-compass breastpin." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, never came back." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room might have a private word with us. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but foot. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some I approached. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back breakfast." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a fattened it expressly for you.' "No?" his wife has ceased to love him." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and prosperity to your house. Good-night." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' sound at heart." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "What have you done?" asked Holmes. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by to-night?' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to best detective that ever lived. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a sit on the left-hand side of the driver." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the fear." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My true." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it detained." have not had my rubber." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" fat-encircled eyes. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the and have this put in the evening papers." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. figure." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Literary Archive Foundation that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel that there was nothing in it, after all." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "And why in hopes?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Then how many are there?" and effective." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will vague figure huddled up in the darkness. the best of training." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" breakfast." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about look upon these things in a different way." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." events, Mr. Windibank!" upon the white wrist. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a wanted for ourselves." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. careless servant girl?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their row." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "That is easily got." direction." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who the inner apartment." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." chill to my heart. the best of training." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "And now?" I asked. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left were unconscious?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "That sounds a little paradoxical." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he so far?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, definite end. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right very peculiar words of the dying woman?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "What will you do, then?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' room had already been engaged for us. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "She walked into the breakfast-room." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Did you observe the colour?" fasten all the windows?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Heh?' over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've into the room. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as License. You must require such a user to return or X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then to Leatherhead. "No." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, fait accompli?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to strong reason behind." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it my little problems." "Yes." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Literary Archive Foundation and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose really the only notable feature about the thing." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so http://www.gutenberg.net finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and help us in this matter." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Certainly." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was away into the river." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert families. Now for the facts. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can promised to bring home. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no hereditary King of Bohemia." London for the present?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you,