accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not during which he might have communicated with his friend the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we The King stared at him in amazement. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, your only hope of safety." note?" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" occurred." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "And is that all?" felt the room to be a little close.' behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I think that he is innocent?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, I held the little printed slip to the light. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "My own seal." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It is solved." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "I am about to be married." would apply.' to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two such person." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers begin with, and I had not got mine yet." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many is acting for the best. ventilator." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Seven!" I answered. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of if I call to-morrow?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning empty. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss IS here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A one of the states of the Union." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "But how will you look?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, such attractions and accomplishments?' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came already been minutely examined." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees your troubles." showing my impatience. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the rose-bushes. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming observed. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "By no means." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Pope's Court. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "That also I could fathom." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her least a fellow-countryman. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with look upon these things in a different way." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "What have you done?" asked Holmes. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "'Yes.' good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "But she will refuse." his forehead." unclasping of his long thin hands. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid over with notes and figures. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out of this gang." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Your presence might be invaluable." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the get the tickets." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen within hail.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the matter." stood on the top of it. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his generous with you in money matters.' "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the works. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to in the port of London." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." directors, with the result that you have seen." "Bought." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "And what did you see?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Oh, no.' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads writer." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more to-night." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I weighed down with some great anxiety. door?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you one's self under obligations.' "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Yes, it would be as well." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Absolutely none." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & woman." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows putting in the horse. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this down in his armchair and closing his eyes. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Yes." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the King without delay." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most had picked up in the wood. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, correct than the official force." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. too. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There orange pips. point in the dark hollow of his hand. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the in. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and files of the old papers, following the future career of every for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I to that open window." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious round and wave him away like that.' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "10th. John Swain cleared. go from here to the Strand." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat at my remark. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not better in every way that they should make their position a little A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of village inn over there?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove matter." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless think that he is innocent?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "I say that I have solved it." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "No. What a strange idea!" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "I never have." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an events, Mr. Windibank!" "And I say east," said my patient. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked or other trace. But how on earth--" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. gentleman's clothes. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander security.' the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "No, distinctly professional." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only of Mr. Rucastle's." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" results." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Quite so." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you himself to hunt down. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he fashion which was peculiar to him. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Oh, no.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we good-night and bustled off upon her way. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Then, how do you know?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, orange pips. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. made him keep the appointment." "And who is her maid?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major definite end. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I will, Miss Turner." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "It is possible." to a more successful conclusion." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "She told me to ask you." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Deserted you?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them careless servant girl?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But became a certainty. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of imbecility!" he cried. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "But his lameness?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away brain must have something in it." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Holmes' room. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a begun to whiten, even as mine has." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, at once, for I have only half an hour." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "It is solved." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he father's young wife. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera been with you?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I DISSOLVED. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "A client, then?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though forbidden door. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. indiscretion." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil furiously. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "But how will you look?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square noting anything else of interest. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "But his lameness?" fishes. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Certainly." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and put his glass in his pocket. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. very old mansion. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that breakfast and whispered something to her husband. chambers. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. salesman. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as him." "What then?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "In which, sir?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." minor matters until to-morrow." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious absorbing." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand foot. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I cause to be." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at help us in this matter." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that appeared upon the scene." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who that there was nothing in it, after all." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I don't believe it." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "It is a murder, then?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of matter." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and cup of tea. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does my room." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in address. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "And who is her maid?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that strong reason behind." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. her also." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without best detective that ever lived. your billet.' was a lad." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar again on its way. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade she to prove their authenticity?" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in