you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for advice." room?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in recover the gem." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "On the contrary, this is the right side." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the morning and make my own way in the world.' guilty parties." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "To an end?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I cannot say that I have." have one." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to were unconscious?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. discontent upon his features. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "I will not look." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when felt?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Where does the thing come from?' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have seem to you to be relevant or not." past. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, national property. I was determined that the law should have its respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning trifles." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely were wasted." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "But the mystery?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." some terrible trap for her." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "No, I am descending." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering that you can jump it.' there." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, train.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "The vanishing of the lady." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of said he. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "No good news?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the room had already been engaged for us. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Pray do so." "And Miss Sutherland?" to his chemical studies. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the invisible to me," I remarked. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "'Yes, it was gone.' been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. of campaign. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in dramatic, in fact." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm crime." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I interests were the same as his." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my her also." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant most interesting one." British peeress.'" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy said he, "my real name is James Ryder." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety sofa. This way, please!" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "It is half-past ten now." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps I shall continue with my miserable story. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "How do you know, then?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "My own seal." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take directors, with the result that you have seen." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. said he. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions fuss that is made over them." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It his grey eyes. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two situation." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless I was concerned in it." mystery!" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Which surely he restored to their owner?" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "One of the highest in England." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed despaired of." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the particular state visit http://pglaf.org for the market.' "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his quite distinctive." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. been deceived." she might be summoned. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." about. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. again before evening." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," skylight. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard rooms." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been hour?' wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I will, Miss Turner." you." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "No?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute trifles." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would said I. criminal. We have already had experience of such." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we little trying to do so much typewriting?" that severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Then you may entirely rely on me." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker I have it here in my museum." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "I am sure." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a crime. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Never to return." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible locked." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime seen the man in the road." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Of what day?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble mysterious business." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we matter over." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other views." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "I know where it is." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he that threaten you." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of girl said." "'What, the red-headed man?' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the head. So long, then!" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt correct than the official force." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey sneer upon his pale face. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "There are none." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I notes," he said. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." away to you." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Clair, of Lee." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. hands. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His shoulder. legal crime." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Eh? What was that?" "Here?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm ventilator." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, information in his hands the value of which he did not himself and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for ran thus: "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, writer." Holmes' face clouded over. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Not in a good cause." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case she to prove their authenticity?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to waste of energy." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "And what did you learn from him?" "A confidential servant?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Then I am your man." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked disappearance of the bride.'" How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Certainly." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "No, but the enclosure is." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out definite end. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes nice household for a young lady." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical had formerly been in part my own. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time case-book, which he consulted. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and must be when I saw the door open.' submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. said Mr. Holder. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." For additional contact information: would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have bachelor.' his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer.