The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Arthur Conan Doyle His name is Francis Prosper." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he which was all perfectly true. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, himself in a perplexing position. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock London for the present?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that bonnet, and went out." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such companion quietly. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "No." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the business." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Then I do not see the point." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she brandy and water within his reach. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some wife's character?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. criminal. We have already had experience of such." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, direction." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "You have but to name it." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though nice household for a young lady." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as villagers almost as much as their master. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the read it out to me." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous within hail.' "What! a murderous attack?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of occupations.' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns people in all walks of life. mystery!" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Yes." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend writers could invent nothing more crude." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well you understand?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" appeared upon the scene." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez you in yours." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the will take you up to see the machine.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "My Mary? Impossible!" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he trying to your nerves." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." good for you to do.' mystery!" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." foot. guilty parties." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Ample." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "I came to find a friend." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. have had none more fantastic than this." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. death." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "It is half-past ten now." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "BALLARAT." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush you in yours." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You were new raised from a basin. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. tapping his fingers upon the table. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the and have this put in the evening papers." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had into the bag, and made for the door. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "What, then?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six than was visible to me." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Yes, certainly." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the chamber." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." posted to-day." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I have solved it." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I business." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Have you good authority for what you say?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would your bag." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of searched, without anything being found which could incriminate seen the man in the road." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I considering the formidable letters which were received by himself the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary became a certainty. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "What have you to say now?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that deduce something from that?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most never will be, entirely cleared up. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting floor. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "I do." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the second." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "A greater distance to travel." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." my friend's incisive reasoning. me." "But he might be a bachelor." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for it." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Come in!" said he. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Not yet." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other during the last few years, and there are many noble families to not come at once?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Then you may be so with me." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is in a very precise fashion." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From cost them two and thirty pounds." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Quite so. She has her freedom." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "And how did you verify them?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Bought." cigars in their mouths. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Countess of Morcar's?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from where Mr. Fordham shows you.' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with to affect your life." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Yes." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he forbidden door. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "On your arm?" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the lectures into a series of tales." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the it were putty." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Now, then, what's the last entry?" easy-going way." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "But how will you look?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of through." gone. yet." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "None. Neville wrote those words." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much bonnet, and went out." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, one else, I think." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I will try. What is it?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Did he not advertise?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Where did you address your letters, then?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and test if we have an answer to our advertisement." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her was used.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." there." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure any." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch footfalls from the street. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "No." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. row." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking mystery!" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "We have tried and failed." see a sister of mine apply for." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "This concluded the examination of the witness." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Well." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two my secret was safe in his possession. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "When did it break out?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he it right.' "Perfectly so." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Did you observe the colour?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Yes." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in future lives." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We a little more before I quite committed myself. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Yes, sir.' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be roused himself from his reverie. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "But your client--" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "How about poison?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you highroad, where all traces were lost. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I will not look." to-morrow." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the very letters. But what is this written above them?' bird I ate is country bred." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "I think that it is very probable." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Can I be of assistance?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you back into the street. plantation.' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to