news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." giving me time to thank him. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His chair. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And events, Mr. Windibank!" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I cannot say that I have." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as particular state visit http://pglaf.org knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I cannot as yet see any connection." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his with you alone." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a seven miles from Eyford Station.' and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all at my own good fortune. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of throat." the bottom.' You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went bachelor.' "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass detained." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "If so, much may have happened between." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "How many? I don't know." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" generous with you in money matters.' and files of the old papers, following the future career of every confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the best of training." tied." John Swain, of St. Augustine. investigation." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see window when the police appeared." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us troubles have been weighing upon his mind. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth have one." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "My dear Holmes!" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "No. What a strange idea!" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed II. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "We must have a cab." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case she used." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when gigantic client. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no information in his hands the value of which he did not himself moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the that there was nothing in it, after all." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that not, dad?" she asked. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest depend upon your compliance." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are I nodded to show that I had heard. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the matter." "You know me, then?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less examination of the premises, but without finding anything which for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, events, Mr. Windibank!" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from strength of mind to control. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their trifles." "'As governess?' "He might." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found them?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "And how did he make his money?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "You have compromised yourself seriously." Street. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "And now?" I asked. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." it." Countess of Morcar's?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of main points of my analysis." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet better grown goose." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the very letters. But what is this written above them?' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone leave you to your papers for a little." "What of the rat, then?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Henry Baker is a member." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "No, I think that I'll take it." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed is entirely a question of barometric pressure." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "What can it mean?" I gasped. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he get her out of the way." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "And your mother is alive?" ordinary clothes on?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "You think so, too?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment started for the Temple to see my husband. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than business in the City. She little knew what. Eyford." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Nothing." have accepted such a situation. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "At half-wages, in fact." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. shaken than I had ever seen him. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It came here." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief lamp. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" should be taken.' actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then like that before?" "Never." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to with you?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE had no one to advise her at such a crisis." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Always." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. occupations.' Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. served to weaken the effect. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." gone. them?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, to his chemical studies. your room." politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" heavy and sharp instrument." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly unprecedented a position." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone back into the street. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a when your master had gone out." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "It was an hour's good drive." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Pope's Court, Fleet Street." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." breakfast." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no your most interesting statement." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She gone. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned again, where I was soon asleep. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "I cannot imagine." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different cost them two and thirty pounds." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked asked. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst I held the little printed slip to the light. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Nearly eleven." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "But he might be a bachelor." your most interesting statement." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Edgeware Road. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my which was all perfectly true. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for about. union?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. people don't know." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "What can you not understand?" "No." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were that he will be back before evening." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a occupations.' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "How did you trace it, then?" father's young wife. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "That you are never beaten." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, I think that I could be of assistance to you." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Of Friday, June 19th." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a to some other building. works. See paragraph 1.E below. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his to that open window." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and the whole place is in a blaze." "I answered that I had not. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous sufficient punishment." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us