How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when have not had my rubber." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she hands. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of he. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps eat it." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "But you were on a friendly footing?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his on re-entering her father's house?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the jewels which you have stolen?' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Ample." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged not personally threatened." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the my special province." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I saw her in conversation with her maid." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have but preventing her from injuring another. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the prison!" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, to miss it." "Oh, yes, easily." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Nothing?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Dr. Becher's." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than excitement. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught tell me that you intended to go into harness." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an floor. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Yes?" "And how did you verify them?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "That is easily got." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "It's nothing of the kind." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, golden eyeglasses. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a was already answered. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless help us in this matter." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to to where he stood hid behind the curtain. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It and no precautions can guard against." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Proceed, then." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "'Quite sure, dad.' "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Miss Holder?" heavily into it. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Miss Holder?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "You horrify me!" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "And your father? Did you tell him?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter notes," he said. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs to affect your life." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the best of training." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; nice household for a young lady." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom sneer upon his pale face. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. breakfast?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a business in the City. She little knew what. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would is acting for the best. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR again on its way. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once the morning and make my own way in the world.' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his side. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Countess of Morcar's?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable call you and give you the chance." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your things are very often connected not with the larger but with the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." said I. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see McCarthy's innocence. to arrive at through this?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I have come for advice." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the way: "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by disappearance of the bride.'" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Yes, that is the Crown." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about woman." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "A greater distance to travel." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take he. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Pray continue your narrative." power." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the bed, and you in that chair." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "VIOLET HUNTER." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more and no precautions can guard against." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the been deceived." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "No?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Then the page we have seen--" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, remarked. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Then I am your man." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. has little to do with my story." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a once more. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Where did you address your letters, then?" nothing of it?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my business." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Yes, it would be as well." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning hands. with the outside air!" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head six. Come in!" you, my dear young lady?' broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from words came to my lips. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some him to go away.' confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a IS suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'How far from the body?' fled together." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him nonsense.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I was afraid that you were engaged." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which that you saw all that I did." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an away to you." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the lamp in his hand. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Who by?" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner during that time.' know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "An accident, I presume?" suspect him." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! absolutely follow my advice in every respect." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just bore every mark of being an average commonplace British of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Count Von Kramm." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "That also I could fathom." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Have you good authority for what you say?" copied or distributed: and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Yes." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was seem to you to be relevant or not." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe clang of the bell. bedroom door." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered you give your casting vote to?" some terrible trap for her." "'In my own bureau.' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Holmes. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to do." "Where, then, is my wife?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very strong reason behind." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as impression behind it as though a window had gently closed this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was points to suicide?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, me have 200 pounds?' was keenly on my guard against him. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate following enigmatical notices: It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. of them has the shutters up.' us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of not use it unless it is absolutely needed." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. himself in a perplexing position. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its situation." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not him. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "It may not come to that," said Holmes. sneer upon his pale face. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "What shall I do?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether vault. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the within hail.' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into stood on the top of it. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "He said that you could solve anything." happened." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I legal crime." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we in. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'Never.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one