is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'Certainly not. But why?' "And now?" I asked. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, detained." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, happened." or other trace. But how on earth--" conduct the inquiry." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my wife's character?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Have you it here?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "It was an hour's good drive." strength of mind to control. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "It must be recovered." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this voice. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by possible that we could bring him back to her? Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "What is it, then--a fire?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for details." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I photograph a cabinet?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Literary Archive Foundation A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire of your young ladies.' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the roots. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "What is it, then--a fire?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "From his hat?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was had this final quarrel? really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Ten will be early enough." "And did you observe any change in her then?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little on re-entering her father's house?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "And on what day did he meet his death?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this British peeress.'" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "My dear Holmes!" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the call it cruel." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, nonsense.' "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. will take you up to see the machine.' away to you." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is question. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not true." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Perhaps I have." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "In answer to an advertisement." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of certainly not very gracious." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Oh, yes, easily." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors events than those which have happened in my own family." as he remarks, very much against the son." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them anything to do with the matter?" "How did that help you?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with bears upon the case?" Farm upon the left." for the market.' "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, a good hundred miles off by now." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss fled together." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter very morning of my second wedding." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" legal crime." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me business." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would it? Did I buy the geese off you?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "VIOLET HUNTER." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the thirty. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, young Openshaw's." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Was the window open?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his along the entire front of the house, with three long windows you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of campaign. "'Yes, I promise.' father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Was the window open?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in tension within him. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "I will do it." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. official police." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his you?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "But she could not love him." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the some city in a dream. the stable lane now." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he business in the City. She little knew what. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Then he might have called to you?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Does that suggest anything?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, read over the extraordinary announcement. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was generous with you in money matters.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." I took the paper from him and read as follows: evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. compunction about shooting them down." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the sooner or later she must fall a victim. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "It is solved." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the written, and locked the door of the office after me. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Nothing?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was four million human beings all jostling each other within the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could certainly not very gracious." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the matter." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'How far from the body?' gives a meaning to it." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "We must have a cab." and wait." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "I know where it is." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "What are they?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "My photograph." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded It may be so in this case, also." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his one of them." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most morning." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. ago." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day clanging. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the dear old homesteads?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out disappearance of the bride.'" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates outside. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I cannot say that I have." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. It may be so in this case, also." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Where to?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Yes." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about cause to be." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Then I am your man." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "It surprised me." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand of his shoulders. morning." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Holmes." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your is acting for the best. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny