information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the matter?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an that he will be back before evening." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I cannot tell." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I have my revolver," said I. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "9th. McCauley cleared. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "But how did you gain them?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you taking in every detail of the apartment. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Where did he live, then?" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "No bad?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll My friend smiled. do.' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few yards of it?' smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'A dozen yards or so.' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. bled considerably." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "What! Had he lost his wife?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out asked. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "The Cedars?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another you for a few hours?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." seem to you to be relevant or not." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the to-morrow." side. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has promised to bring home. chance." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white from you?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'I am sure if I had known--' tapping his fingers upon the table. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done status with the IRS. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his this poor creature." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "It may not come to that," said Holmes. in a friendly supper." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we singular points about the case. What did the police think of the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Will you go?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "I guessed as much." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "That sounds a little paradoxical." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, is four-and-twenty." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major miles off. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "I should like to see him very much." "Proceed, then." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and The events in question occurred in the early days of my overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "No, but the enclosure is." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." round and wave him away like that.' formed some opinion?" "'And the work?' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I coat-tails." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is already been minutely examined." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "It is a murder, then?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "You forget that I know nothing about it." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to legal crime." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as hour." The summons was a brief and urgent one. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the in this note: and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in likely to be some crony of the landlady's." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it back into the street. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the his wife has ceased to love him." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that very morning of my second wedding." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Where, indeed?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a go from here to the Strand." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "What do you mean?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an way in." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that round and wave him away like that.' are, and they are waiting for us." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" that threaten you." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Dr. Becher's." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms placed his cuttings. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout of." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," The events in question occurred in the early days of my which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have presented more singular features than that which was associated sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "I think that I had better go, Holmes." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always opportunities to fix the problem. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there used to be." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, It may be so in this case, also." had a long day." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" case before our client came into the room." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. opened the door, and slipped through. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang written. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at that, and I came down." do.' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch things are very often connected not with the larger but with the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I should wish to." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's that I am arrested." License. You must require such a user to return or active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, heavily into it. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Did you become engaged then?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "VIOLET HUNTER." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been it? Did I buy the geese off you?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I front of me. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers obstinate." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I cannot say that I have." Eyford at 11:15.' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'And what salary do you ask?' posted to-day." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "I am armed." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better vague figure huddled up in the darkness. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, chamber." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must I shall communicate with you." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There sofa. This way, please!" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Well, it is a possible supposition." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as back alive. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of despair." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "'Never,' said I. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. room?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent one of them." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you goes." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of down in his armchair and closing his eyes. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was outside." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I have solved it." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "And help." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker held up the lantern and gazed about him. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'Entirely.' is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Mrs. Toller serenely. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every absorbing." "But what is it you wish?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "'And what are they worth?' I asked. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Where does the thing come from?' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is is," said he presently: swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the salesman. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to The note was undated, and without either signature or address. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "That was it, sir." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Where is it, then?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" you for a few hours?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my place no limit on the sum I may draw." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I speckled band?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for existence." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Certainly." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for