introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Nothing." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all yet." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but him nearly every evening." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the tension within him. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue retorted upon me, and I on you." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As begun to whiten, even as mine has." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily with frightened eyes at his accuser. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with and wait." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's copied or distributed: order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Pope's Court. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. populous neighbourhood." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are to Leatherhead. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. point in the dark hollow of his hand. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the stones. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "And how did you find out?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when father's young wife. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "'Quite sure, dad.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their returning from some small jollification and was making his way his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual in a very precise fashion." south, for the country is more deserted there." good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "You horrify me." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I redistribution. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb had a long day." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the house with me." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he had no one to advise her at such a crisis." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "I would pay ten." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, 1.E.9. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'Yes, sir.' eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Tired-looking or fresh?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me interests were the same as his." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the bed, and you in that chair." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. His name is Francis Prosper." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me ourselves in the office." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "I am in hopes that she does." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. back to my heart. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for you want, then?' gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Munro.' him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being bachelor.' "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Holmes." how narrow had been my escape. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy fat-encircled eyes. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the ceiling. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" The King stared at him in amazement. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was ways of our fellow-men." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had I am not easy in my mind about them." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Do you receive much company?" he asked. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small over here." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin despair." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught you, my dear young lady?' have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'Which dealer's?' and have this put in the evening papers." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Yes, sir." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "'What then?' I asked. mystery!" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial second." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "One of the highest in England." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Yes." occurred." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her annoyance, but no jest. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Always." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the horse could go." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear silent! Oh, he will be silent!' begin with, and I had not got mine yet." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, chill to my heart. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The coat-tails." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and several quiet little villages up there." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over mysterious business." man. I know him from the photograph." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Yes, at the mines." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "If so, much may have happened between." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in status with the IRS. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I hair?' enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "How long did she speak to this Alice?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been to that open window." quickly through a disagreeable task. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the was lame." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the shoulder; "he's all right." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "It looks newer than the other things?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I have come for advice." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. and all of them with the keenest interest. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was together. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still bird I ate is country bred." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my head. So long, then!" 1.F. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Not particularly." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents instincts rose up against that laugh. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "What! Had he lost his wife?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right as yours." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "You horrify me." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "And how did you find out?" indeed happy." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. to a light-house. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our help us in this matter." tension within him. the address that was given us in the advertisement. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of conduct the inquiry." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. already been minutely examined." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in to Leatherhead. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double six. Come in!" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "This concluded the examination of the witness." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "I cannot imagine." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Upon what point?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "And that is--" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Dr. Gregory B. Newby was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. locked." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the matter." "So I heard. You have him here?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Of what?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Witness: It was. "How often?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I to a more successful conclusion." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the loss of it. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his several quiet little villages up there." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was shag which I had seen upon the previous night. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say have accepted such a situation. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a hands. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his made him keep the appointment." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Not particularly." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with round with crates and massive boxes. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of said he. indiscretion." nights." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he What do you deduce from it?" matter." nonsense.' "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, meant." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Lestrade of Scotland Yard." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, putting in the horse. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the could gather together that I was able to avert another public some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." on re-entering her father's house?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast there was no need for father to know." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Your French gold?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet