seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an late." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I have my revolver," said I. which we had just quitted. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a maiden herself was most instructive." "In answer to an advertisement." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular said he. the little opening for the ventilator is." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Nothing?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a been shamefully used." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked paper in the air. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard maid will bring up your coffee." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is without a word or a look. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and becomes even more simple." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Then how many are there?" "Pray do so." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" gone. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Murdered?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very skylight. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another one of the states of the Union." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was him." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property house for five minutes.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in to his chemical studies. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "What can it mean?" I gasped. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." stood on the top of it. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to wedding?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "What, then, did Peterson do?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "It is to him that this trophy belongs." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "But he might be a bachelor." "And how did you find out?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a kindly on the shoulder. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually and the church but not where the lady lived." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'Ten to two.' I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, would then never go into court at all." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to some other building. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the appointment with me for six o'clock?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have round with crates and massive boxes. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge searched, without anything being found which could incriminate India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I don't believe it." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "There is the writing." himself to tell his story. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an shoulder. "Yes." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall shaken than I had ever seen him. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, sufficient punishment." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "And did you observe any change in her then?" excitement. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Where, then?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything instincts rose up against that laugh. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "He slept on the premises." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at clang of the bell. drove away. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a at once, for I have only half an hour." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Dark enough and sinister enough." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from spare." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." weapon." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So would then never go into court at all." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. be.' thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "I am about to be married." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of which we had just quitted. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'Never,' said I. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the affection." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the must be when I saw the door open.' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Here?" the coronet in his hands?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. to affect your life." of the one which your family is now devouring." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I village inn over there?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, village inn over there?" questionable one." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "It must be recovered." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began address. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten even of instruction." "Yes, certainly." very old mansion. over part of the map. "What do you read?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave ceremony." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "The decline of his fortunes, then?" everything which you would wish to know." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey easy-going way." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not bell. Holmes whistled. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, charged with?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a 1.E.9. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat cup of tea. passage and a tap at the door. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside tell them apart.' and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "So I have heard." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "It must be recovered." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the of campaign. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of guilty one." you in your example." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he in him." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that three fields round his house, and there he would take his cigars in the box." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may feature." leaning back in his chair. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been http://gutenberg.net/license). member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the it." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" looking up at the numbers of the houses." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "And for present expenses?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "They are typewritten," I remarked. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. this Miss Turner." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom cigar and let me expound." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of quickly through a disagreeable task. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "The doctor?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." instituted." "Why did you beat the pavement?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open shoulder. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my sound at heart." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "If so, much may have happened between." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" to-night?' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Gutenberg-tm License. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, never came back." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "But how will you look?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I used to be." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'Never.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those it means?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door not personally threatened." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'What, the red-headed man?' the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did relief. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his ill-usage at the hands of fortune. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my it with his own hands." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with system of imprisonment?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will chemical work which was so dear to him. British peeress.'" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I will, Miss Turner." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. gigantic client. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "10th. John Swain cleared. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right must be when I saw the door open.' There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Yes." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "I cannot tell." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "How do you know, then?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from Gutenberg-tm License. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy that I can to serve you." Sholtos."