child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "But his lameness?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Very much so." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side straighten it?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door despaired of." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "An enemy?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all matter over." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, presume?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any have not had my rubber." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "To an end?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Then I am your man." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran several quiet little villages up there." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, bell. Holmes whistled. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and minor matters until to-morrow." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "I should like to see him very much." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw train from Paddington which would bring you there at about and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only arrested. You then--" papers must be those that are destroyed.' repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was trifles." back into the street. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his business at Coburg Square is serious." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my have accepted such a situation. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "You will not go there first?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an God! What an exposure! What can I do?" a suggestive one." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You have but to name it." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "I don't believe it." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the date of his supposed suicide." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Certainly not. But why?' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a companion. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if south, for the country is more deserted there." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Yes." "You forget that I know nothing about it." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my enter into my head. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed salesman. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "From his hat?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever heavy and sharp instrument." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I them?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "And your mother is alive?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "The Coroner: What do you mean? and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in lost his Christmas dinner." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than had a long day." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a new duties?' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Who was the criminal, then?" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Entirely." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "You don't mind breaking the law?" weapon." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "You forget that I know nothing about it." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Where, then?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "And what then?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given and laid it on the table. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought third from London." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." strong and stiff." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "It came here." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the used to be." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "By all means." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter a good hundred miles off by now." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I will get her to show me." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by speckled band?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love third from London." "And did you observe any change in her then?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged You want to know what became of those geese?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email in your London, you will know that the office of the company is knowledge of the world." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. kindly on the shoulder. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had be. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of of a light. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven bird I ate is country bred." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "To ruin me." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Yesterday." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Holmes, the busybody!" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "And Miss Sutherland?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "10th. John Swain cleared. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less strength in the others." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked it were putty." "Very murderous indeed." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "And Miss Sutherland?" prisoner's face. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning carried out of court." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a girl said." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that back into the street. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news manager. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "'And the work?' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned be.' but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn to-night." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Yes. He waved his hands." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a married her." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction investigation." "I think that it is very probable." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I have come for advice." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to standing smiling on the door-step. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't memory. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, the stones. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, events, Mr. Windibank!" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Heh?' carriage. It was a chestnut." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question what do you think they found in the pockets?" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Pray be precise as to details," said he. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the coroner come to?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But dear old homesteads?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he rooms." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I way in." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "And leave your case unfinished?" envelope. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile strange features which were associated with the two crimes which defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "No." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have outside." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I would pay ten." suspect him." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the of this gang." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which conceal it?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here The note was undated, and without either signature or address. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "10th. John Swain cleared. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the coronet in his hands?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what For additional contact information: have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent trifles." said I. "It is very kind of you." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, so far?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "You are hungry," I remarked. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the if she died from some sudden fright." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." in the dead of the night?' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow there!' "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "You think that he is dead?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we new duties?' "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss been lifted and conveyed somewhere." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Certainly." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does charge against him will break down." "What then?" "To the police?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the dangers which encompass me." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "My own seal." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "'I am sure that I do not know.' of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." too. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Come in!" said Holmes. your equipment. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Quite so." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of get her out of the way." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the new duties?' acquaintance?" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such disappearance of the bride.'" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But said I. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I learned something! Where are the gems?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Farm upon the left." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "What then?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel