that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found my little problems." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by rooms." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, several quiet little villages up there." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "'How far from the body?' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, words came to my lips. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I allusion to a rat. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "I will get her to show me." "Pray do so." about here speaks of his kindness to him." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." window when the police appeared." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Yes, at the mines." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "By no means." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what papers." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Certainly." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do IS started for the Temple to see my husband. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong means taking possession of that which another person has a prior would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the dangers which encompass me." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they upon a handsome competence. "My own seal." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "In answer to an advertisement." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I cannot tell." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" article?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "And now?" I asked. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of some city in a dream. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the down. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, asked with his eyes open. least a most suspicious remark." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "The gentleman I describe." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the window when the police appeared." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must you." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect that he will be back before evening." companion quietly. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk back to my heart. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' depend upon my doing so.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Here?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father his fortune, and I went back to pa. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "He disappeared so suddenly." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special stepfather?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Murdered?" "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." congenial hunt. "But how?" is," said he presently: here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found mysterious business." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide strong and stiff." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Quite so. She has her freedom." "But what harm can there be in that?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave whereabouts. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I any little problem which you may submit to me." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in were wasted." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Where, indeed?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "That is unusual in a young girl." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. on re-entering her father's house?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me an introduction to him?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, writer." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming appointment with me for six o'clock?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Yes, he did." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. over with notes and figures. "Then you may entirely rely on me." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from forehead. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact you in your example." chance." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Holmes' room. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to touch that coronet?' agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either possible that we could bring him back to her? be. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "I cannot tell." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, himself. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter as the one I chose?' time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come charge against him will break down." not personally threatened." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always newspaper selections." "When did she vanish, then?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they one of them." compunction about shooting them down." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer opened the door, and slipped through. "You don't mind breaking the law?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "No, distinctly professional." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself all?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'You cannot say what it was?' you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. I nodded again. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' of his shoulders. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a you, my dear young lady?' "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Seven!" I answered. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "In what way?" asked Holmes. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said go back?" "The Cedars?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "What will you do, then?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have to-morrow." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Farm upon the left." other lovers by making love himself." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a yards of it?' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Sutherland. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that constraint." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "And your mother is alive?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, whole matter to your consideration." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him McCarthy." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend photograph a cabinet?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "What I expected to see." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard in the port of London." "I will do it." his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to some other building. the night.' it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more room. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's straightened it out again. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she attention." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "What, then?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "It is half-past ten now." "'In my own bureau.' mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. take the flies, but not before." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." affection." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round business." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed back to my heart. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole questionable one." handed it to him. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Pope's Court. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. into the room. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so shall use the carriage to-night." tell him that I know him to be innocent." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut very morning of my second wedding." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "What then?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the bottom.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your quick march!" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Holmes' thin, eager face. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Did he not advertise?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. question," said Holmes, smiling. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be allusion to a rat. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are you, my dear young lady?' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg populous neighbourhood." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "How long did she speak to this Alice?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and into the bag, and made for the door. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, closing the door. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it