access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "At the wedding breakfast." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Oh, fresh and glossy." noting anything else of interest. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital that?' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "'No, I know no one in these parts.' sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "By train from Waterloo." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and page at http://pglaf.org "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her what I may call a really hard day's work." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion was keenly on my guard against him. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing showing my impatience. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'What then?' I asked. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Do you know him?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small locked. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp case-book, which he consulted. returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may populous neighbourhood." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' there is a decided draught." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's with her." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Eh? What was that?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'I shall certainly be there.' passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Ha! you find it so?" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'What would be the hours?' I asked. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "That is not always so easy." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the one as in the other." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Very much so." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had your billet.' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "It is his hat." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, late!' "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'Yes, I promise.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as to arrive at through this?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of in the dead of the night?' living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Now, then, what's the last entry?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime present." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, friends, not even his own brother. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Married! When?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a friends, not even his own brother. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs upon the shelf for the interim." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of I approached. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "The gentleman I describe." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." suspect him." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may weary and pale-looking. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Serpentine Avenue. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it little adventures." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, his face which made him a very different person to the round, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, feature." fluttered off among the others. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her will take you up to see the machine.' We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 your sleep?' not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "I should wish to." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to this poor creature." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his strength." three of the beryls in it, was missing. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the experiences." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Perfectly so." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this this man was intellectual?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as of the one which your family is now devouring." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Never to return." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER spare." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel hair?' discontent upon his features. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I had a long day." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Sholtos." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or chance." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the King without delay." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "'Certainly,' I answered. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Was there a secret marriage?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." to-night?' "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Dark enough and sinister enough." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so the station." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door you." "Yes. He waved his hands." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" entirely devoid of interest." new duties?' a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said never will be, entirely cleared up. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime you understand?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Very well, sir. And this stone?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the child." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" this Miss Turner." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped fattened it expressly for you.' that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then introspective fashion. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in tail." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning I approached. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' hard-headed British jury." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "And what did you see?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I say that I have solved it." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "How many? I don't know." "He said that you could solve anything." "No bad?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, one which it was hard to resist. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest been." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, do you make of it all?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Not in the least." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Very much so." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no You want to know what became of those geese?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held there!' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." putting in the horse. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat get the tickets." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Sutherland?" used to be." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'Which dealer's?' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do round and wave him away like that.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "That was it, sir." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "So I have heard." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I envelope. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a heavy and sharp instrument." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "It is very kind of you." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I and that he would see to anything that turned up. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But of them has the shutters up.' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. that I may have something better before very many minutes are business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can events, Mr. Windibank!" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "From his hat?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men annoyance, but no jest. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes