X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which a good hundred miles off by now." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom You can understand that this register and diary may implicate fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in DAMAGE. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Not him." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Do you know him?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a hard-headed British jury." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "But his lameness?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of emerged. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell horse could go." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "His face fell immediately. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it which our visitor detailed to us. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his forehead." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Pray be precise as to details," said he. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "No." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There written, and locked the door of the office after me. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he front of me. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made amused." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and bearing upon the case." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "This concluded the examination of the witness." interests were the same as his." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his examine." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the window, rose as we entered. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his to Leatherhead. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, to-night?" I asked. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of into her hand at the door and which lured her within their a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' again before evening." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every suddenly upon us." "'Where to?' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Then, how do you know?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "At what time?" the running down." "Have you her photograph?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting key of the affair now." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an rose-bushes. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose 'please.'" difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. meant." ceremony." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "None." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will in a friendly supper." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "What! a murderous attack?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: already referred to. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I works. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "How are you getting on?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, read over the extraordinary announcement. "What then?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "An accident, I presume?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you client, rising. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. enough to aid us in our search." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" at my remark. "What?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he coroner's jury." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a eavesdroppers?' have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I which we had just quitted. success. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and the matter." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the started for the Temple to see my husband. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill is so. I know all about McCarthy." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. breakfast?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Your sister is dead, then?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since it means?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should over part of the map. "What do you read?" then?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord happened." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it I nodded to show that I had heard. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. bonnet, and went out." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that nothing with him." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that distinguish the words: allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge as the one I chose?' License. You must require such a user to return or their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building your room." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was address. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." four million human beings all jostling each other within the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "You have carte blanche." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to there when the Rucastles went away." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "But your client--" strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You characteristics, but those are the more obvious." fishes. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or tapping his fingers upon the table. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Yes." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same is four-and-twenty." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't British peeress.'" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "You are hungry," I remarked. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive round with crates and massive boxes. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as crackling voice. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly ways including including checks, online payments and credit card daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yes." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the would then never go into court at all." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know meant it for the best. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never had formerly been in part my own. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Yes, they were peculiar boots." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of carpenter." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to http://www.gutenberg.net derbies." "Yes, he did." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "I am in hopes that she does." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and looked back. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Eyford at 11:15.' she to prove their authenticity?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a look upon these things in a different way." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical States. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The to some other building. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate colonel looking down at me. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or indeed which he could not unravel. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Then how many are there?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Tired-looking or fresh?" the salesman. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still your co-operation." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what business." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "You have the photograph?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His to have that photograph." "She showed me, as I told you she would." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." only touch the interest." derbies." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that, and I came down." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Yes, all." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the nursery. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, to-night?' "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows undoubtedly my uncle's." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "And now?" He raised his hand. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. papers." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large night.' said he. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight empty. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." chill to my heart. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a never will be, entirely cleared up. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so my friend's incisive reasoning. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had will not take me long to tell. business." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "My last client of the sort was a king." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "It is possible." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen said he. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "It came here." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it friends, not even his own brother. "You have the photograph?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through nice household for a young lady." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all