gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' about. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "I will get her to show me." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen new acquaintance to Baker Street. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed money should be paid at once.' creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." business." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "But what is it you wish?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug have not had my rubber." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Chief Executive and Director tell them apart.' out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "What! You do not mean bodies?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project three fields round his house, and there he would take his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would one of them." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and his forehead." off." paper in the air. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his wedding?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which lamp in his hand. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Well, some hundreds of times." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, relief. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. returning from some small jollification and was making his way "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the ceiling. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm answer." recover the gem." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, very morning of my second wedding." to-night?" I asked. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his there has been an enclosure here!" "What is it?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "How did he come?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the night.' we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a answered with a sidelong glance. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "You have a clue?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "And why?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Not social, then?" drove away. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" approach us with offers to donate. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise recover the gem." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and stalked out of the room. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of persecution?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did there has been an enclosure here!" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to his wife has ceased to love him." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Can I be of assistance?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "She showed me, as I told you she would." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it secret." "At what time?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's better in every way that they should make their position a little events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." business?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. you, my dear young lady?' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Only as much as we can deduce." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the where we are going." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for man. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless might have a private word with us. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir galvanised. keep the flames under. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "He said that you could solve anything." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Yes." "His face fell immediately. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found about. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a heavy and sharp instrument." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was answered with a sidelong glance. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay know all about it," he snarled. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria during that time.' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not was keenly on my guard against him. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to I shall continue with my miserable story. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and about here speaks of his kindness to him." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly would apply.' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a than to us. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his once more to my work. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "It's nothing of the kind." "The knees of his trousers." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the man. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left appeared upon the scene." "That's no good." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "When did she vanish, then?" "My private note-paper." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, had formerly been in part my own. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "How about poison?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Pope's Court. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in ceremony." said he. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "How about poison?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "And what then?" "By no means." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual to his chemical studies. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, your troubles." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the bottom.' entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Holmes, the busybody!" "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, visitors." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "The murder was done with it." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "The vanishing of the lady." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "I should be immensely obliged to you." could go. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a I nodded again. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the matter." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as instincts rose up against that laugh. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Yes." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Stoke Moran." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left he. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. straightened it out again. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he you want, then?' change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The make me his representative both with the servants and with the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Quite so. She has her freedom." drove away. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "I see many objections to any such theory." "Never to return." bell. Holmes whistled. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "The landlord of the Alpha." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as be sorry for having acted so harshly." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "A thing like a cleaver," said he. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous cigars in the box." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." felt the room to be a little close.' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the enter into my head. presented more singular features than that which was associated magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been I was concerned in it." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his in the port of London." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his deduce something from that?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, suddenly upon us." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you experiences." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "'Yes, I promise.' "'And what salary do you ask?' tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & my former friend and companion. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to comes from the middle window." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who that, and I came down." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the here and I will read it to you: should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed right! Sit down and let us talk it over." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work was feeling which was the fattest.' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at again on its way. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. was a lad." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "His face fell immediately. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs knowledge of the world." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he This is what he says: upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery silent! Oh, he will be silent!' in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "VIOLET HUNTER." This is what he says: have been better. It is all right." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There