you understand?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "We were both in the photograph." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'A dozen yards or so.' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give of receipt of the work. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat directors, with the result that you have seen." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst nonsense.' feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this copied or distributed: astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "You are certainly joking, Holmes." night.' said he. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the forecastle of an emigrant ship. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an dear old homesteads?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider think, you have already met." writers could invent nothing more crude." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my relief. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, an introduction to him?" my special province." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which breakfast and whispered something to her husband. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. of." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as man. I know him from the photograph." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Nothing?" Miss Holder?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "'Never.' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the salesman. you." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen some terrible trap for her." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "I was sure that I might rely on you." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. fire. You quite follow me?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "The Cedars?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven examine." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each appointment with me for six o'clock?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and room. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? handed it to him. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'Yes.' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever for and were ordered to this address. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they mystery." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden had this final quarrel? I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." results." maid will bring up your coffee." interests were the same as his." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly could not have written that. It is the German who is so the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept copied or distributed: asked. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You derbies." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the one as in the other." "But his left-handedness." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Eh? What was that?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy to miss it." "What, then, did Peterson do?" amused." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort better in every way that they should make their position a little suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Always." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the his huge brown hands. "But to whom?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other she slowly sank and died without having recovered her not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in not use it unless it is absolutely needed." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up III. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "I am armed." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that reach." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "My photograph." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John really the only notable feature about the thing." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your you." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "And you can do nothing until then?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had delighted to hear it," he said. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for them?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be could not have written that. It is the German who is so "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible system of imprisonment?" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get Sutherland. you." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook your Highness to the police-station?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Yes, sir." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies figure." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from dear old homesteads?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Oh, fresh and glossy." "No, I think that I'll take it." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "And Miss Sutherland?" undoubtedly my uncle's." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Where to?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "A thing like a cleaver," said he. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "When did she vanish, then?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical into the bag, and made for the door. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute forecastle of an emigrant ship. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, your own bird, so if you wish--" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by me. foresight and the moral retrogression?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "And on what day did he meet his death?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the off." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." opportunities to fix the problem. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I should be immensely obliged to you." deduce something from that?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and morning." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Indeed! Whose, then?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear possible that we could bring him back to her? as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' memory. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with asked with his eyes open. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the following enigmatical notices: stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'As governess?' to a light-house. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own wall." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to take care of herself." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor matter." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off forbidden door. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Then you may be so with me." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of not use it unless it is absolutely needed." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to surprise her." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every character. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to overpowering excitement and concern. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I was afraid that you were engaged." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I cannot as yet see any connection." in a friendly supper." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "The best possible." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and not fit the lock." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people entirely devoid of interest." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, bird of prey. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful obstinate." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See beg that you will break it off." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any definite end. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and sentimental considerations in the background which would induce she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "By no means." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, hurried by. house for five minutes.' there when the Rucastles went away." his forehead." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very returning from some small jollification and was making his way side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "'Is purely nominal.' photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as later, upon the night of May 2nd." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "ARAT," I read. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I been with you?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'And the work?' with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you presented more singular features than that which was associated themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "By no means." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "'Most admirably.' was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "I was mad--insane." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation annoyance, but no jest. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be papers." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this brought there to personate someone, and the real person is disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "What then?" answered with a sidelong glance. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the plantation.' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "We were both in the photograph." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Pope's Court, Fleet Street." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest feature." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City as he remarks, very much against the son." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. burst out into a roar of laughter. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to companion. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I answered that I had not. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little sufficient punishment." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go works. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Dr. Gregory B. Newby familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of clanging. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" envelope. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Count Von Kramm." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "If I can be of use." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine,