great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. mystery." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is upon the sideboard." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." chair. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Here?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I way in." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you read over the extraordinary announcement. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable whatever might befall. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which morning." dear old homesteads?" "Of Friday, June 19th." I am not easy in my mind about them." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence my secret was safe in his possession. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence fire. You quite follow me?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you the little opening for the ventilator is." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been here and I will read it to you: at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "How did that help you?" simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not in a friendly supper." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "What?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and glanced through. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "No. What a strange idea!" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Ah!" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing spark where all is dark to me." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "'A dozen yards or so.' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do is acting for the best. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family then?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "I have solved it." "Dr. Becher's." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Not social, then?" "Yes. He waved his hands." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has key turn in the lock." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I see no marks." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your wall." "Your sister is dead, then?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he where we are going." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw bonnet, and went out." "Oh, yes, easily." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "You have the photograph?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of companion. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am once more on the important position which you have been fortunate lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses this poor creature." "Entirely." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Does that suggest anything?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through was a lad." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the seven miles from Eyford Station.' orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "None." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Where did you address your letters, then?" views." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** how narrow had been my escape. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to-night's adventure." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Very murderous indeed." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. own family. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "But she could not love him." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that is acting for the best. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that delighted to hear it," he said. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, this remarkable episode. "By no means." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope to arrive at through this?" her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly think that he is innocent?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come a room. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in sit on the left-hand side of the driver." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT conclusions. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "My private note-paper." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable go--none." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her enter into my head. which we had just quitted. fire. You quite follow me?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "I will not look." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the was lame." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Thank you. And your address?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "It missed him, then?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." beg that you will break it off." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "I say it is." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was 'I should be able to look after that for you.' that there was nothing in it, after all." to his chemical studies. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is nonsense.' straighten it?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the eavesdroppers?' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Tired-looking or fresh?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "And on what day did he meet his death?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter late!' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with once more for Briony Lodge. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer garden below. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you depend upon my doing so.' followed. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in new acquaintance to Baker Street. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as to you." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is this Miss Turner." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east all?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "No bad?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in not within a twentieth part of the market price." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I McCarthy's innocence. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Where does the thing come from?' it were putty." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. possible that we could bring him back to her? "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "What! Had he lost his wife?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," most important business. It is probable that he will be away all that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of of the efforts of the United States government and of the better His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if existence." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this four million human beings all jostling each other within the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the tragedy. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! individual and becomes the badge of a society." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Never." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" but preventing her from injuring another. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after but preventing her from injuring another. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old important." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently sufficient punishment." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward thin legs towards the fire. "Will you go?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE other means.' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Yes, I have one waiting." disturbance in my wife." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very that you can jump it.' "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "And how did you find out?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "He disappeared so suddenly." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Miss Holder?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Oh, fresh and glossy." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It was shining brightly. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "And that is--" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with them, and came down just as you departed. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll I. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air ill-usage at the hands of fortune. DAMAGE. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Why did you beat the pavement?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Miss Holder?" and the whole place is in a blaze." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "And I to find an enemy." less than 26s. 4d. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for spare." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little like that before?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has you came in." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be delirious. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have public press." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my chair. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the one as in the other." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. asked.