near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." in a very precise fashion." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce danger is over." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" His name is Francis Prosper." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me public press." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I will not look." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your shall not find me ungrateful." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My shoulder; "he's all right." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most sentimental considerations in the background which would induce hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out do.' exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and it. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' respectable self." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer been anything against him. He had for years been known as a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should nice household for a young lady." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a will not take me long to tell. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one more solid." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love she to prove their authenticity?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Munro.' the side-table." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "It was a confession," I ejaculated. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a own family. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good speckled band?" that more terrible than the truth. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to such person." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "I cannot tell." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Then, how do you know?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought said I. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no I nodded again. "Pray do so." "But you were on a friendly footing?" promised to bring home. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. noble correspondent could be. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I gone. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an photograph?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great to a light-house. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "What, then, did Peterson do?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I his forehead." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. closely." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "But I am all in the dark." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman records." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of as this. Pray let me have the details." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Pope's Court. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the best of training." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" never to learn it at all." everything which you would wish to know." experiences." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "The gentleman I describe." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to distinguish the words: and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and instituted." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a It may be so in this case, also." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Then you may be so with me." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of seem to you to be relevant or not." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger tear off another piece?' presented more singular features than that which was associated number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause anything to a woman, for she would have her way." cause to be." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, any." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the way: "'Where could I find him?' your billet.' thirty. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "And help." "You horrify me." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, wedding?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "No, distinctly professional." the Assizes." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "And Miss Sutherland?" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's I. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The me upon any point which I do not make clear." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London said he. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the business matters.' before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet to miss it." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Stolen." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "But he might be a bachelor." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Stoke Moran?" said he. pierced for earrings?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "But you have hopes?" "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End again, where I was soon asleep. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing helping a boy to put up the shutters. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for business matters.' tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and from the brougham. "Yes, he did." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the devil!" "In which, sir?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time asked with his eyes open. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Never to return." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I such person." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a guilty one." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated situation." handed it to him. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this without a word or a look. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "The Coroner: What do you mean? "In the cells." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of unprecedented a position." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert hereditary King of Bohemia." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who out." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few your room." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly records." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said your own bird, so if you wish--" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; as noiselessly as she had come. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any strength." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Yes, certainly." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this said I. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in nice household for a young lady." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. with you?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the child." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an that before taking the final step I should like to submit the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was least a fellow-countryman. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and chance at all." is a common subject for conversation. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and think that any burglar could have done. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low III. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in plantation.' might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all tell him that I know him to be innocent." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Then I can wait in the next room." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be showing my impatience. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this out of this horrible affair." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the I was concerned in it." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity some city in a dream. "And you can do nothing until then?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Will you bet, then?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have were new raised from a basin. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace