I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I promise," said Holmes. salesman. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in guilty parties." carpenter." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is detective. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Certainly." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided again." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "We have tried and failed." "Come in!" said he. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my your troubles." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been standing smiling on the door-step. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'In my own bureau.' 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. keep the flames under. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "It must be recovered." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "But she could not love him." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." vault. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Her father is very rich?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Could he throw no light?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of singular points about the case. What did the police think of the his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "It was." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This man. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through dead, shall be safe with us." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which hour." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and himself in a perplexing position. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our fasten all the windows?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Chief Executive and Director "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Did your wife hear all this?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "No. What a strange idea!" his face. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Munro.' very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, you want, then?' abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Leadenhall Street--and--" "Nothing." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "What can it mean?" I gasped. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: appeal." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I hurried by. neither fascinating nor artistic." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid fled together." Munro.' Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding threw himself down with his face to the pillow. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "That you are never beaten." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "What then?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "If so, much may have happened between." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'As governess?' which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my front of the hall door has given its name to the place. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they for its centre. 1.E.9. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left minor matters until to-morrow." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple me what he had done with the three missing stones. back alive. three of the beryls in it, was missing. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For nice household for a young lady." "Imitated." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "But you can know nothing of this?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out followed. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just man. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I excitement. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From as the one I chose?' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Then you may be so with me." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then colonel looking down at me. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm populous neighbourhood." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any imbecility!" he cried. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your nothing with him." "'Certainly,' I answered. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent outbreak?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "By no means." head. So long, then!" made his money." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign highroad, where all traces were lost. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most guilty parties." locked." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I know where it is." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Very much so." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her thirty. prison!" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six fluttered off among the others. them, and came down just as you departed. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Yes, only one." "To ruin me." congratulate you again." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the general public were present, then?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "No bad?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I cannot imagine." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a heavily into it. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." families. Now for the facts. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "You forget that I know nothing about it." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "What will you do, then?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Dirty?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little lamp in his hand. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long new duties?' week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'Certainly,' I answered. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and nights." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to enough to aid us in our search." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my purpose equally well?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, golden eyeglasses. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." you for a few hours?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Yes. He waved his hands." my special province." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. whole matter to your consideration." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" thin legs towards the fire. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine excitement. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow business matters.' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. awaited us upon the table. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "He slept on the premises." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side affair. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'I have already given you my word.' "What then?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the be. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, late." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of writers could invent nothing more crude." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the gbnewby@pglaf.org penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of my former friend and companion. appeared upon the scene." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. clanging. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the coronet at all injured?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "So I heard. You have him here?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to not come at once?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the think that any burglar could have done. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two was feeling which was the fattest.' "It must be recovered." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in of Mr. Rucastle's." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "No." "One of his hands." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was will find little credit to be gained out of this case." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted sound at heart." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up trying to your nerves." manager. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he hurried by. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is fait accompli?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as this unhappy family?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "You will not go there first?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from 'please.'" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting had no one to advise her at such a crisis." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "It is no ordinary one." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this