marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "What then?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of noting anything else of interest. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father 'I should be able to look after that for you.' sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" one of the states of the Union." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond relation between them, and what the object of his repeated takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who corner of the building. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Yes, sir." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture chambers. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the investigation." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of key turn in the lock." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the bed, and you in that chair." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I have a cab outside." written. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a gbnewby@pglaf.org nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "'Why that?' I asks. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I have hopes." present." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the again before evening." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Sutherland. "That is easily got." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the loss of it. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to upon a handsome competence. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of intrusion of other matters." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had his huge brown hands. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a you." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Where, indeed?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, back to my heart. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our you." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "She told me to ask you." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Not I." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, bedroom door." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "What! Had he lost his wife?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Did you observe the colour?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Eh? What was that?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told bears upon the case?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "But you can know nothing of this?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at case-book, which he consulted. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a little trying to do so much typewriting?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Gutenberg-tm License. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "'You cannot say what it was?' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for past. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name shadow pass over his face as I spoke. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little this truth that in these little records of our cases which you high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Nothing?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. system of imprisonment?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of this gang." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Entirely." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I would give my fortune to have them back." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Then I can wait in the next room." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me had no one to advise her at such a crisis." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Oh, yes, easily." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Yes." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable everything which you would wish to know." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Nearly eleven." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the events than those which have happened in my own family." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more putting in the horse. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her were new raised from a basin. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little best detective that ever lived. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Certainly." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it of the way of danger. yards of it?' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the driver. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." deduce something from that?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this strength." "I don't say that. Perhaps." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." was already answered. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was strode off upon his way. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am For additional contact information: King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "'And what salary do you ask?' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "You are all wrong." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Lestrade of Scotland Yard." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Did your wife hear all this?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family bill, which interests me deeply." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest ill-usage at the hands of fortune. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my relation between them, and what the object of his repeated occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch hand, madam?" noble correspondent could be. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "I see many objections to any such theory." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, in a very precise fashion." strength of mind to control. copied or distributed: other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "You forget that I know nothing about it." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I will get her to show me." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his was already answered. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the driver. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. quick march!" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her you." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Has he come with you to-night?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite furiously. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I here." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much opened a pocket-book and took out a note. outside." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear against a man in the prime of life?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "'Which dealer's?' the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in would then never go into court at all." way in everything. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your gone. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Precisely." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. 1.F. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite even of instruction." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "'I have already given you my word.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "'I am sure that I do not know.' nonsense.' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a wedding?" "I see no marks." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten he. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this himself. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." crowd. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Two days later this same performance was gone through under went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know joking. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able outsides of the windows. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I say that I have solved it." "Then he might have called to you?" and no precautions can guard against." "Her father is very rich?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and straighten it?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. ran thus: Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even impression behind it as though a window had gently closed of the efforts of the United States government and of the better looking up at the numbers of the houses." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "But you were on a friendly footing?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "And now?" He raised his hand. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my chamber." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Who was the criminal, then?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." bill, which interests me deeply." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And to a more successful conclusion." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and