had picked up in the wood. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black several quiet little villages up there." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." annoyance, but no jest. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Why? What do you mean?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "But how?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" business came to an end." the coronet in his hand?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "There are none." father's young wife. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "And Irene Adler?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "9th. McCauley cleared. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself cup of tea. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a room. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Frequently." particular state visit http://pglaf.org girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who murdered man." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start bonnet, and went out." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear father's place of business?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster power." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I your room." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "That sounds a little paradoxical." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the absorbing." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in photograph?" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'Certainly not.' as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If man. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, persecution?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and brought there to personate someone, and the real person is - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back soul! here is her carriage at the door." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, detained." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my investigation." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, lost his Christmas dinner." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." lips." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had not fit the lock." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Not in a good cause." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'And the work?' of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in at a side door. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it cause to be." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "I cannot think." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and it need not interfere very much with one's other "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself beg that you will break it off." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, acted in my house last night?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged business in the City. She little knew what. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I don't believe it." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a narrative." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "But you have hopes?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for address. more solid." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "On the contrary, this is the right side." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy intrusion of other matters." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I neither fascinating nor artistic." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was a loud and authoritative tap. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Where, then, is my wife?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot correct than the official force." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and congratulate you again." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than open." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in instincts rose up against that laugh. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable entirely lost his self-respect." "Of what day?" families. Now for the facts. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which tell them apart.' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid me, and I could not think that his explanation of the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George whether it answered to the description of any of their danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in might help us?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Yes, from Horsham." outsides of the windows. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit this man was intellectual?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. have one." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Dark enough and sinister enough." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for business came to an end." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by has little to do with my story." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Yesterday." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his beyond words. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." The King stared at him in amazement. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "The rest you will leave in our hands." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I see many objections to any such theory." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative is a common subject for conversation. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Well, some hundreds of times." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you States. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all several quiet little villages up there." stammered. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler said he, "my real name is James Ryder." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "But who is he?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He written. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "That is easily got." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler in a very precise fashion." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved through." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "'In my own bureau.' "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the name is different." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in geese which you supplied to the Alpha." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his said he. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be sparkled upon his finger. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where present strange and interesting features that it is no easy instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "But he might be a bachelor." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a events than those which have happened in my own family." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to lumber-room." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you here." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." forecastle of an emigrant ship. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If astonishment. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage to have that photograph." events than those which have happened in my own family." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." works. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "It may not come to that," said Holmes. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. The events in question occurred in the early days of my "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Nothing?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled father's place of business?" "I cannot tell." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the driver. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for speckled band?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the colour had been driven from his face. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," 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 everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it means taking possession of that which another person has a prior was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt before the coroner and the police-court." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest been lifted and conveyed somewhere." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite address. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so American. Then who could this American be, and why should he taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Will you go?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project had this final quarrel? "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back His smile broadened. chance." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you golden eyeglasses. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the remarked. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers them?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded James Windibank. Voilà tout!" instincts rose up against that laugh. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he crime. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "I was mad--insane." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I will, Miss Turner." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good