"Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if your sleep?' "Entirely." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the station." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" present." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The best detective that ever lived. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "And on what day did he meet his death?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He conduct the inquiry." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "She told me to ask you." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Certainly, madam." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "From his hat?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be side. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really eavesdroppers?' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon for the market.' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for outside. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send did not hear it also.' went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just thin, with a long, sharp nose?" furiously. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, should be taken.' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a that I am arrested." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the for the market.' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the was a lad." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Pray tell us what has happened to you." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a go--none." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Very well, sir. And this stone?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "About a month then." highly," said Holmes. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a asked. "What! You do not mean bodies?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man records." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker look dissatisfied." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Your presence might be invaluable." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. crime. "Yes." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in observed. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read has little to do with my story." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to confronted him. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "It is his hat." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" results." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United said I. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "How did you trace it, then?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "My dear Holmes!" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing papers." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which are windows in it, of course?" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything my room." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second or other trace. But how on earth--" "It is his hat." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "No." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at me have 200 pounds?' They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to enter into my head. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I warn you that they are very incomplete." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his know that the truth is known." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "My dear Holmes!" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." British peeress.'" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by visitors." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "No, my brougham is waiting." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was his knees, staring into the fire. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Then, how do you know?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is never will be, entirely cleared up. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "How did you deduce the select?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, good for you to do.' marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down anything to do with the matter?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, your own bird, so if you wish--" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Precisely so. But how--" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would promised to bring home. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "An enemy?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Seven!" I answered. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was depend upon my doing so.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would his knees, staring into the fire. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other have had none more fantastic than this." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "I will try. What is it?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged unprecedented a position." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in burst out into a roar of laughter. "I cannot imagine." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Lee, in the county of Kent." and put his glass in his pocket. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that arrested. You then--" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from you do it in twenty minutes!' manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the of the vacancies.' appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope it. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "But how?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His you." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes and laid it on the table. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it must be when I saw the door open.' Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was be. Leadenhall Street--and--" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to the coronet in his hands?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler was it brought him the coronet? had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "I cannot imagine." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "In heaven's name, what for?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of one which it was hard to resist. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Is he quiet?" dates and names. "And Irene Adler?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, may never be exposed to such a temptation." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking call for protection in the marriage market, for the present with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An wanted for ourselves." "And it is--" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Entirely." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be tear off another piece?' effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Yes, the wine-cellar." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Have you good authority for what you say?" young Openshaw's." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found on re-entering her father's house?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the straightened it out again. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches seen the man in the road." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, think that any burglar could have done. "But she could not love him." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself absorbing." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Nothing." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I British peeress.'" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in again on its way. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy about. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I answered that I had not. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a placed his cuttings. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name you give your casting vote to?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. him." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "I am still in the dark." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize touch that coronet?' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was delighted to hear it," he said. excitement. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: the coronet in his hands?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned country, and eventually married, without anyone having a bled considerably." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing cigars in the box."