has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "I have come for advice." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Really! You surprise me." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the general public were present, then?" to-night?" I asked. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "I think it very unlikely." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For done what I asked you, Jones?" made him keep the appointment." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, me." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "No." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great sufficient punishment." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much forecastle of an emigrant ship. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "And on what day did he meet his death?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open papers must be those that are destroyed.' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." if I call to-morrow?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard delirious. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "You have compromised yourself seriously." chambers. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Why that?' I asks. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the friends, not even his own brother. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might you." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "He said too much." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous she to prove their authenticity?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'Very good.' your bag." are, I think, all that we need." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' room. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was writer." good-night and bustled off upon her way. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A about here speaks of his kindness to him." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of could go. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by to you." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the something of him before." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had and effective." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between begin with, and I had not got mine yet." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the room while you explain this matter?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it foot. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, eavesdroppers?' fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, records." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom writing, and yet I know it well." the coroner come to?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "By no means." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There me have 200 pounds?' screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning gentleman's clothes. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen there was no need for father to know." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my be sorry for having acted so harshly." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the ceiling. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. our word." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Street. "I cannot as yet see any connection." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more fact, we may call it conclusive." infinite languor in his face. his eyes and forehead. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "I was sure that I might rely on you." "To the police?" already referred to. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Literary Archive Foundation among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of husband's writing, madam." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. was already answered. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "His face fell immediately. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am 'please.'" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the roused himself from his reverie. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, I approached. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason instincts rose up against that laugh. States. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" sake, don't!" the devil!" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with kindly on the shoulder. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Have you her photograph?" carpenter." where she found matters as described by the last witness. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came compunction about shooting them down." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered up this clue while it is still hot." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "It is half-past ten now." tension within him. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for out of this horrible affair." orange pips. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me back into the street. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your what I may call a really hard day's work." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "'It is locked up,' I answered. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but started for the Temple to see my husband. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Holmes' face clouded over. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Yes." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt must compliment you." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Does that suggest anything?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to even of instruction." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "I am to be neutral?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two voice. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Nothing." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be children over to America with him, so that I found myself without have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present been anything against him. He had for years been known as a I approached. you give your casting vote to?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." bare slabs of marble. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall front of me. so.' our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of shall not find me ungrateful." gone before you can get him to hospital." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite wedding?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic thin legs towards the fire. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your answer." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "And who is her maid?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I answered that I had not. asked. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, deduce something from that?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would undoubtedly my uncle's." "Your French gold?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Yes." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "At half-wages, in fact." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us together. feature." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have not come at once?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "And how did you verify them?" have I gained?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself approach us with offers to donate. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Nothing?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very you." the running down." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to outsides of the windows. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to beyond words. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after lectures into a series of tales." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other posted to-day." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Bought." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Married! When?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an my friend's incisive reasoning. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was back alive. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there go from here to the Strand." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "You heard nothing yourself last night?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things death." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "And for present expenses?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at name is different." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the jewels which you have stolen?' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "You don't mind breaking the law?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "What!" he roared. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." case-book, which he consulted. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the