"You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at derbies." you." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend made his money." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and ourselves in the office." Literary Archive Foundation of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can placed his cuttings. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began showing my impatience. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" paper in the air. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "What, then?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Yes." "Just look it up, then." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the Red-headed League." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, walking." public press." "Nearly eleven." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, His name is Francis Prosper." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that have I gained?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle your sleep?' rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you returning from some small jollification and was making his way his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so himself in a perplexing position. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "The landlord of the Alpha." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons promised to bring home. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I think it very unlikely." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates stammered. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and desk. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "'How far from the body?' much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions the coronet at all injured?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "But who is he?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its strange features which were associated with the two crimes which his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a wedding?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and him." remarked. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but matter over." "May I see it?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Nothing." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he I nodded to show that I had heard. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Was she in good spirits?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the main points of my analysis." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its be there in time for your coming." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was feeling which was the fattest.' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "You are all wrong." and all of them with the keenest interest. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "I will do it." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case fact, we may call it conclusive." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Was she in good spirits?" shoulder. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning with you?" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a like gravel from a pit.' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention to me. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'No, I know no one in these parts.' eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. interests were the same as his." delirious. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch becomes even more simple." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of official police." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger indiscretion." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a heavily into it. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining and prosperity to your house. Good-night." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Won't it ring?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "You have but to name it." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook leaning back in his chair. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Again Holmes raved in the air. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I cannot tell." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Proceed, then." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "To ruin me." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the answer." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "They are typewritten," I remarked. was used.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I politicians who had been sent down from the North. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect main points of my analysis." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "What!" he roared. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I say it is." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards not personally threatened." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It certainly sounds feasible." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate himself to hunt down. on in his house." returned to France?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His bears upon the case?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble writing, and yet I know it well." "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I have a cab outside." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" copied or distributed: his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped fact, we may call it conclusive." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. matters immensely." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "She walked into the breakfast-room." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. chance." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Always." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a room. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that is now desirous of getting those letters back." are, I think, all that we need." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I think it very unlikely." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Do you go out much in society?" "Ample." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment ran thus: donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "It is solved." what these perils are?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" nothing with him." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "'Yes, sir.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter house for five minutes.' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "'Certainly not. But why?' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Street. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous bears upon the case?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "He said that you could solve anything." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's nothing of it?" "An enemy?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I cannot imagine." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and meant." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open wedding?" "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "The Cedars?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man answered with a sidelong glance. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Was she in good spirits?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "'Yes, I promise.' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't eat it." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. unprofitable." Sutherland. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to reach." light and attacked it." "Where is it, then?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk situation." which our visitor detailed to us. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "And what did you learn from him?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, paper in the air. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were fat-encircled eyes. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was you." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I leave you to your papers for a little." where we are going." there is a decided draught." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Yes." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. himself to hunt down. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Have you good authority for what you say?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after main points of my analysis." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently not fit the lock." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in me. You must get home instantly and act." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of him nearly every evening." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "It's nothing of the kind." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Stolen, then." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered morning." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. have not had my rubber." off." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a people in all walks of life. "I fear not." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City handed it to him. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool.