our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'What, the red-headed man?' done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and I. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "About a month then." hand, madam?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Yes." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the as he remarks, very much against the son." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, open." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the my former friend and companion. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. everything which you would wish to know." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from McCarthy." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Yes." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "One of the highest in England." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "We must have a cab." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Not in a good cause." "The King of Scandinavia." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Not in the least." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away I nodded again. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase key of the affair now." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now Gutenberg-tm License. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Witness: It was. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight later, upon the night of May 2nd." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" child?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that upon the white wrist. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "A call for help, you thought?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Nothing?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the wife's character?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good 1.E.9. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would enough to aid us in our search." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Entirely.' brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "I was certainly surprised to find you there." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Then he might have called to you?" deduce something from that?" "Yes, all." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the corner of the building. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at colonel looking down at me. strong and stiff." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little in a very precise fashion." beg that you will break it off." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of your billet.' closing the door. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out easy-going way." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to of note-paper. It read in this fashion: that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I hour?' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Thank you. Pray proceed." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, visitors." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "But the mystery?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR like that before?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low gigantic client. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of crime." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Stolen." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest woman who has had her own way to make in the world. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your States. pound a week." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now so far?" shaken than I had ever seen him. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and about. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "What do you mean?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Pray do so." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "No, I think that I'll take it." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "And how in the world did you find them?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the promised to bring home. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Which surely he restored to their owner?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three again before evening." October 9, 1890. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could McCarthy." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Foundation should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such that "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the south-west, I see." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Who was the criminal, then?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the very letters. But what is this written above them?' walking." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; beyond words. developed." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Countess of Morcar's?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of one or two very singular points about this room. For example, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between once more for Briony Lodge. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. like that before?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to in. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Could he throw no light?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled bare slabs of marble. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Yes." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the nights." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "I am armed." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Where is it, then?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Yes, sir." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who good-night and bustled off upon her way. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Well, it is a possible supposition." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such means taking possession of that which another person has a prior place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it You can understand that this register and diary may implicate characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from to a light-house. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, upon the sideboard." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each to-night's adventure." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by notes," he said. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Pool. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Quite sure, dad.' panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the warnings." "She walked into the breakfast-room." charged with?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make row." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf will not take me long to tell. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'Quite sure, dad.' which we had just quitted. there has been an enclosure here!" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that nice household for a young lady." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped fled together." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question I was concerned in it." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Dr. Becher's." a very grave face. "None." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Yes, he did." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a bearing upon the case." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Have you it here?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet over here." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," politicians who had been sent down from the North. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." he bowed and left the room without another word. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the sufficient punishment." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't what do you think they found in the pockets?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to and no precautions can guard against." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let footfalls from the street. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have read over the extraordinary announcement.