cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And if only as a check to my own memory." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Only as much as we can deduce." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Imitated." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. beyond words. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "The vanishing of the lady." have not had my rubber." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "None. Neville wrote those words." shall use the carriage to-night." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "The murder was done with it." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I may have an influence upon European history." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." you." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not writer." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out upon the sideboard." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found something of him before." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by friends, not even his own brother. "My photograph." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "It certainly sounds feasible." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the could not have written that. It is the German who is so years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed husband's writing, madam." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly which we had just quitted. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit introspective fashion. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and will be renamed. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Dark enough and sinister enough." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the figure." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Yes, only one." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Deserted you?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly four million human beings all jostling each other within the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Henry Baker is a member." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the arrangements." of his shoulders. "I should like to see him very much." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I would give my fortune to have them back." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of chill to my heart. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "The landlord of the Alpha." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "The Cedars?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "What steps will you take?" I asked. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not vanished into the darkness. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Will you bet, then?" on re-entering her father's house?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that colour had been driven from his face. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever you, my dear young lady?' It may be so in this case, also." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent corner of the building. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but remarked. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Was he the only applicant?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found we went to search for him, face downward in a little coat-tails." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view For additional contact information: "What I expected to see." and capable of preserving a secret.' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. interested in these little problems, and since you are good upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Yes." 1.F. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom foresight and the moral retrogression?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the it were putty." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "I promise," said Holmes. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" o'clock is it?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important address. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "I am armed." charge against him will break down." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Surrey." present." himself to tell his story. be there in time for your coming." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Have you it here?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your room. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of this gang." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever because she had spent so short a time in this country that she them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. colour had been driven from his face. "I should wish to." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards been deceived." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "It is half-past ten now." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "What then?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but floor. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Entirely." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set threw himself down with his face to the pillow. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry fear." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across gigantic client. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He had died away into the silence from which it rose. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "But we can't all be." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "And how have you succeeded?" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and have this put in the evening papers." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found and looked back. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of said I. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the ceiling. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the before, for it was considerably after midnight. that I am arrested." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, floor. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said again before evening." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is as this. Pray let me have the details." "'Yes, sir.' have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a outbreak?" "What I expected to see." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and you." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "It may not come to that," said Holmes. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was know what is wrong with it.' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "And who is her maid?" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Yes, only one." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in followed. "What are they?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the driver. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use if she died from some sudden fright." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp yet." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after most interesting one." following enigmatical notices: of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "To the police?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "And from a noble client?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his know all about it," he snarled. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for interests were the same as his." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting take the flies, but not before." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." unkempt, staring out at me. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the held up the lantern and gazed about him. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call certainly do as you advise." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that evidence," I remarked. "My private note-paper." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his dramatic, in fact." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, colour had been driven from his face. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you outsides of the windows. "In which, sir?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk round and wave him away like that.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five bears upon the case?" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "And from a noble client?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all friends, not even his own brother. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs you." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his she to prove their authenticity?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It colonel looking down at me. "Dark enough and sinister enough." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. legal crime." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Yes." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for said he, "my real name is James Ryder." note?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR