offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of you." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your once more. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy tell them apart.' night.' said he. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate four million human beings all jostling each other within the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its could go. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be for securing the situation." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the locked." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Ample." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened for and were ordered to this address. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Where did you address your letters, then?" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the morning and make my own way in the world.' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Yes." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was a perfect sample of the class. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson of campaign. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." confronted him. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a whole matter to your consideration." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Ha! you find it so?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. DAMAGE. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had who was a member of your goose club." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, throat." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, way in everything. "I cannot tell." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my papers must be those that are destroyed.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have to tell." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her place no limit on the sum I may draw." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "No?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am window when the police appeared." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'I have heard so.' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my row." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "But what is it you wish?" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, all that?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at meant." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "And what then?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On gives a meaning to it." the bottom.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if daring than any effort of the imagination." seen the man in the road." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the King without delay." official police." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "None. Neville wrote those words." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." strength in the others." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I have my revolver," said I. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the iron safe, which he closed upon it. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular some terrible trap for her." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without that you saw all that I did." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and events than those which have happened in my own family." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, was it brought him the coronet? ourselves in the office." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Foundation continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." than was visible to me." "'Very good.' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "That was it, sir." "BALLARAT." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had in. second." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Absolutely none." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy I have it here in my museum." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried said I. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "It is no ordinary one." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy hands. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him o'clock is it?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it bedroom door." "He said too much." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I assure you that I am in your hands." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I cannot as yet see any connection." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Cross for the Continent." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it and the church but not where the lady lived." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "What do you mean?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "And how in the world did you find them?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "The knees of his trousers." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee touch that coronet?' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "A thing like a cleaver," said he. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'Certainly not. But why?' details should find their way into the papers. Inspector been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of be there in time for your coming." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Nothing?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and had no one to advise her at such a crisis." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached crime. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "And how did he make his money?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the general public were present, then?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do carried out of court." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the south-west, I see." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "What will you do, then?" "You will not go there first?" room. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Oh, yes, easily." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of individual and becomes the badge of a society." how narrow had been my escape. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might pity, because in other respects you would really have done very conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist felt?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "You have it, sir, just as it happened." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I ran thus: least a fellow-countryman. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort over with notes and figures. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." weapon." into the room. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Proceed, then." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged it right.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman anything to do with the matter?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Stolen." that you wished to speak to me?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was lost his Christmas dinner." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "What I expected to see." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at would apply.' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "None." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Street. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "An enemy?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in look upon these things in a different way." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our in the port of London." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "To the police?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I papers." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my leave you to your papers for a little." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just this as likely?" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth burst out into a roar of laughter. seen the man in the road." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking six. Come in!" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my business in the City. She little knew what. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his his forehead." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Deserted you?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "It was an hour's good drive." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his should be taken.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "She walked into the breakfast-room." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the stones. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "But I am all in the dark." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that had picked up in the wood. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. answered with a sidelong glance. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," weapon." do.' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little house for five minutes.' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to father's place of business?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "But she will refuse." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for records." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a himself in a perplexing position. interests were the same as his." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as of Fenchurch Street." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I