blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Then you may entirely rely on me." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached in one or two places in England?' at a side door. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Where, then, is my wife?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some point in the dark hollow of his hand. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "I have come for advice." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly his forehead." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I tail." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that unclasping of his long thin hands. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that looking up at the numbers of the houses." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "But how?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, deduce something from that?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" without a word or a look. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the passage and a tap at the door. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any singular points about the case. What did the police think of the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "And Irene Adler?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we *** START: FULL LICENSE *** it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's looking up at the numbers of the houses." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and your relations to her." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the strength." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next that he has suffered." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, do." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Entirely." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine showing my impatience. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley business came to an end." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, miles off. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and seem to you to be relevant or not." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future was a lad." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband remarked. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a into the room. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to presented more singular features than that which was associated law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, fatally injured? nothing of it?" "None." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Farm upon the left." too. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote at once, for I have only half an hour." assist you in forming an opinion." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Nothing?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "No, thank goodness, she did not." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly other, as fresh and trim as possible. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Street. "Where did you address your letters, then?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the if I call to-morrow?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Then you may entirely rely on me." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'Ample.' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, voice, changing her seat as requested. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a roused himself from his reverie. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small cigars in the box." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he is worth.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had business." "'In my own bureau.' stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." our word." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his searched, without anything being found which could incriminate him nearly every evening." "You have compromised yourself seriously." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned been shamefully used." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What even so self-evident a thing as that." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence asked. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I The King stared at him in amazement. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you row." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" him. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, ashen face. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest written, and locked the door of the office after me. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Stoke Moran." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you individual and becomes the badge of a society." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." outsides of the windows. Watson," he said cordially. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the know what is wrong with it.' Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked back to my heart. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." way in everything. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something weapon." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "But not more so than I to find you." already been minutely examined." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "No." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she was lame." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had to have been novel and of interest." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is girl said." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." that threaten you." "No." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "He disappeared so suddenly." charge against him will break down." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "There is the writing." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the window, rose as we entered. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "My dear Holmes!" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be forebodings. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and invisible to me," I remarked. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, photograph?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. point in the dark hollow of his hand. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the conversation I have gathered that they have been married about For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Where to?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have his knees, staring into the fire. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just this remarkable episode. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear you." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how happened." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to fat-encircled eyes. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, question," said Holmes, smiling. him to go away.' quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the crime. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Street. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "What, then?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I bled considerably." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "I will not look." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than writers could invent nothing more crude." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my both be extremely obliged.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. you in yours." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the through." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and guilty one." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Dr. Gregory B. Newby "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Perfectly so." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Quite so." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Chief Executive and Director "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if lectures into a series of tales." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Yes, only one." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "That also I could fathom." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I