goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." look dissatisfied." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "You have a clue?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Ample." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" his huge brown hands. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it room. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no cup of tea. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with a good hundred miles off by now." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I think that it is very probable." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come mystery!" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, whether it answered to the description of any of their All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us was the fact that his father should, according to his account, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Just look it up, then." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so disappearance of these gems?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both woven round him. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to before the coroner and the police-court." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "We must have a cab." flock.' a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very bachelor.' "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried colonel looking down at me. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak derbies." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some and inquire as to the address." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross I think that I could be of assistance to you." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. and effective." "It is possible." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door as this. Pray let me have the details." "But you have hopes?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he someone who had been in Australia." himself. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in must compliment you." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Pray do so." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Then how many are there?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "'Stolen!' he cried. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations the inquest, and which are worth considering." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my in the dead of the night?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts towards the blaze. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. page at http://pglaf.org deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Certainly." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal read over the extraordinary announcement. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always take the flies, but not before." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she locked. visitors." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique swore that no one else had been in the front room during the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "But of what society?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from noble correspondent could be. "I fear not." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the your bag." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "I am all attention, madam." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "I cannot imagine." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Not him." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." be there in time for your coming." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with your bag." before the coroner and the police-court." "No, but the enclosure is." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "And it is--" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two goes." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is of the vacancies.' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New should be taken.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a evidence," I remarked. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or room had already been engaged for us. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient garden below. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an highly," said Holmes. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me was keenly on my guard against him. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are as noiselessly as she had come. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." such person." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Arthur Conan Doyle places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "But how will you look?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with characteristics, but those are the more obvious." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my unprecedented a position." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at not personally threatened." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." your equipment. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, discontent upon his features. "Then what has happened to him?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "It is possible." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "No." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of voice, changing her seat as requested. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Then how many are there?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I himself to tell his story. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole such person." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless certainly not very gracious." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "No sign of it?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, directly by questioning you." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the business?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor delirious. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a sooner or later she must fall a victim. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Only as much as we can deduce." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Pray tell us what has happened to you." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second father's place of business?" remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "No?" "But who is he?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the companion quietly. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and should be taken.' This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put was not a bird to be seen there. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I I nodded to show that I had heard. them?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a photograph?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life appeal." past. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Of Friday, June 19th." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the room while you explain this matter?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune made him keep the appointment." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." may never be exposed to such a temptation." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I I was concerned in it." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down which are rolled in Rotterdam." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, good-night and bustled off upon her way. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a fled together." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the lost his Christmas dinner." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "What shall I do?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Seven!" I answered. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey papers." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "The gentleman I describe." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Very much so." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the tied." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Cross for the Continent." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in brain must have something in it." "I would pay ten." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Very truly yours, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in friend's singular character. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "So I have heard." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "How can you tell that?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She everything which you would wish to know." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. delirious. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "I say that I have solved it." "Yes, he did." my friend's incisive reasoning. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "You forget that I know nothing about it." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'And what salary do you ask?' said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his drawing your inferences." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." fat-encircled eyes. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Was the window open?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found question. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not was it brought him the coronet? inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Come in!" said he. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from are windows in it, of course?" side. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a