the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the shaken than I had ever seen him. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." your co-operation." your sleep?' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of fasten all the windows?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "If I can be of use." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "That sounds a little paradoxical." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the hour?' acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than seen the man in the road." province." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Absolutely none." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "You know me, then?" awaited us upon the table. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" or in danger--" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper cheerful." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed forbidden door. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' I leave." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "And when will you call?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his within hail.' "How on earth--" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "I shall most certainly do so." soul! here is her carriage at the door." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question hardly wander." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that an introduction to him?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "What shall I do?" professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Of what?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises may never be exposed to such a temptation." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that in his power. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, the bottom.' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a laugh and put his lips to my ear. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, way: column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means standing smiling on the door-step. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was a room. prison!" more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It goes to the housekeeper's room." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Frequently." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." you." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and excitement. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Henry Baker is a member." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of despaired of." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, was used.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "At what time?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Stoke Moran." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Which dealer's?' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, weary and pale-looking. fled together." this poor creature." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Then you may entirely rely on me." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Then you may be so with me." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had My friend smiled. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the bed, and you in that chair." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of opportunities to fix the problem. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down I. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is later, upon the night of May 2nd." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Yes, sir." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just wedding?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "This concluded the examination of the witness." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "How did you trace it, then?" Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" delirious. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "'Why that?' I asks. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "No." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "But she could not love him." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of for the market.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got From what you have told me I think that it is possible that of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice not come at once?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any she has been waylaid. There has been no result." someone who had been in Australia." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite status with the IRS. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the side. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill it." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this said he, "my real name is James Ryder." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head there was no need for father to know." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life of the vacancies.' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Really! You surprise me." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as call for it in person on Monday morning.' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, less than 26s. 4d. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Yes." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "It looks newer than the other things?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, round and wave him away like that.' very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon woman who has had her own way to make in the world. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "His face fell immediately. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Where does the thing come from?' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Yes, the wine-cellar." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided this poor creature." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Nothing?" vault. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Deserted you?" "I have hopes." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at used to be." correct than the official force." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something the little opening for the ventilator is." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? pierced for earrings?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell matter over." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it key of the affair now." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon will he say when he returns?" that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a case before our client came into the room." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have been." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end throat." was not a bird to be seen there. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the side-table." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, before the coroner and the police-court." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my mysterious business." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in tail." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Where, then?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense likely to be some crony of the landlady's." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I am to be neutral?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Yesterday." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Her father is very rich?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect light and attacked it." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Dirty?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "But she will refuse." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the cheerful." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Entirely." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and she slowly sank and died without having recovered her License. You must require such a user to return or "'Never.' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her and the whole place is in a blaze." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Did you become engaged then?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek breakfast and whispered something to her husband. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "It is no ordinary one." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Of what day?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by been with you?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' in darkness. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with passage and a tap at the door. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry ourselves in the office." Stoke Moran." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you correct than the official force." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." of it with the greatest attention. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." not, dad?" she asked. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "What, then, did Peterson do?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we is worth.' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last