had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "You don't mind breaking the law?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in soul! here is her carriage at the door." his knees, staring into the fire. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I presented more singular features than that which was associated belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Doctor, of the paper and the date." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and it need not interfere very much with one's other What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker nights." You want to know what became of those geese?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. down. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend galvanised. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Foundation Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our photograph?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of photograph?" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in in my life." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Who was the criminal, then?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger mysterious end." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found enter into my head. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It is possible." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the me. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "How did that help you?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding dramatic, in fact." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two time." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'How far from the body?' "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little call the police, let the police find what they can.' "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank galvanised. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Yes?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Stoke Moran?" said he. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "It must be recovered." "'Certainly not. But why?' work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step desk. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the nonsense.' "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and and your relations to her." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It is half-past ten now." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "This photograph!" I shall communicate with you." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "How many? I don't know." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, hereditary King of Bohemia." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for if she died from some sudden fright." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the floor. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, of Mr. Rucastle's." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method make me his representative both with the servants and with the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir you in your example." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Yesterday." http://www.gutenberg.net "It is half-past ten now." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "9th. McCauley cleared. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I cannot imagine." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" of." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was purpose equally well?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It had a long day." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking it were putty." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker them?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Here?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "How did that help you?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom acquaintance?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the taking in every detail of the apartment. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as affection." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "What then?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the you do it in twenty minutes!' all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue suddenly upon us." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me was shining brightly. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Here?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Has he come with you to-night?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is mysterious end." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of perplexity from it to my illustrious client. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, off." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Pray continue your narrative." the best of training." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without tail." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled hand, madam?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, occupations.' In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." nothing with him." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest to-morrow." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'About the same.' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has have had none more fantastic than this." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by words came to my lips. "If I can be of use." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I how narrow had been my escape. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute interests were the same as his." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I answered that I had not. Again Holmes raved in the air. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the stones. other, as fresh and trim as possible. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Literary Archive Foundation the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the be best to do. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Munro.' "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "None." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "10th. John Swain cleared. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the clang of the bell. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I cannot tell." come either from the window or the door. My attention was making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass indiscretion." business." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a character. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, that?' "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. conceal it?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a For additional contact information: one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "'I am sure that I do not know.' father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "I am still in the dark." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'What would be the hours?' I asked. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much very old mansion. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a extraordinary contortions. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn correct than the official force." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven there!' stammered. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "That you are never beaten." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "And how have you succeeded?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be upon a handsome competence. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a second window is the one that I jumped from." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "One of his hands." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and fait accompli?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "But what will you do?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You are hungry," I remarked. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes sound at heart." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, note?" have not had my rubber." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed confronted him. again." opened the door, and slipped through. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole think you a quite exceptional woman." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in