stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "And now?" He raised his hand. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that used to be." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Never." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Where is it, then?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the been." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the British peeress.'" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Holmes. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no writing, and yet I know it well." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "At half-wages, in fact." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white pressing in one house as in another. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark burst into a hearty fit of laughter. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Yes." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the galvanised. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "I cannot say that I have." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Pray let us have it, for all that." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Certainly." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Do you know him?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "BALLARAT." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "That also I could fathom." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "None." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'Certainly not.' "The Cedars?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do chambers. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "But she could not love him." believe that I should never have any practice at all. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the and have this put in the evening papers." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Quite so. She has her freedom." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I think it very unlikely." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "That's no good." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me lamp. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to or other trace. But how on earth--" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. maiden herself was most instructive." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal crowd. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "When did she vanish, then?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching main points of my analysis." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Has he come with you to-night?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "That sounds a little paradoxical." be.' handed it to him. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" true." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the crime." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "And how in the world did you find them?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Yes." had a long day." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no you understand?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and capable of preserving a secret.' should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Where did you address your letters, then?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. ready to-morrow?' doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. gbnewby@pglaf.org have not had my rubber." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage this Miss Turner." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. introspective fashion. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall in this way: wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "I am armed." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily away to you." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a tell them apart.' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Was the window open?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. strength of mind to control. to you." "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But bled considerably." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "What do you make of that, Watson?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it himself to tell his story. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your of." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and chill to my heart. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. shoulder; "he's all right." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more begin with, and I had not got mine yet." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." me. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known morning." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "What then?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into rat could hardly pass through." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few washing it down with a long draught of water. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a front of the hall door has given its name to the place. little adventures." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" companion quietly. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "We have tried and failed." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "You have but to name it." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing towards the blaze. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I am sure." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and shall not find me ungrateful." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which points in connection with it which never have been, and probably inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises like gravel from a pit.' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Nearly eleven." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, gone. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "And I." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Have you it here?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' cost them two and thirty pounds." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Yes, from Horsham." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly American. Then who could this American be, and why should he where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me http://www.gutenberg.net wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and directly by questioning you." him and tried to hold him back. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I chemical work which was so dear to him. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Here?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to instituted." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number character. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Street. beg that you will break it off." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick said he, "my real name is James Ryder." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Yes, but only for you and me." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is future lives." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "How did that help you?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Pray continue your narrative." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "And how did you verify them?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for was once confined in the cab my mission was practically there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three me." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "So it appears." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "None." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his him to go away.' "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it key turn in the lock." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best