of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was guilty parties." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Was she in good spirits?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Pray tell us what has happened to you." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom lips." "Yes, I have one waiting." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Yes." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a married her." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in people in all walks of life. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am might have a private word with us. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to prepare for the new role I have to play." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official pierced for earrings?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father conceal it?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project writing, and yet I know it well." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Yes, sir." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the tragedy. is acting for the best. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "In heaven's name, what for?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "My photograph." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to gigantic client. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I nodded again. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "But how?" in this note: house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' definite end. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "But your client--" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than hour?' of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "No." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had bill, which interests me deeply." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after happened." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for 1.E.9. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "I have solved it." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Does that suggest anything?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and writing, and yet I know it well." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too been lifted and conveyed somewhere." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to she used." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir that you saw all that I did." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a open." not fit the lock." the salesman. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with noble correspondent could be. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business was used.' hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Absolutely none." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found companion quietly. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'And the work?' little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." of his shoulders. been able to understand it, in a very few words. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from in his power. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am you." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The certainly not very gracious." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight posted to-day." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Was he the only applicant?" in one or two places in England?' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Quite so. She has her freedom." II. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut little trying to do so much typewriting?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their man. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to written. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so all-comprehensive glances. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to over with notes and figures. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know present." seem to you to be relevant or not." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "At the wedding breakfast." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "And how in the world did you find them?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "No sign of it?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came it." My friend smiled. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which had a long day." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" any." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in crime." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew reach." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do a little more before I quite committed myself. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was the roots. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "No." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "No good news?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, paper in the air. Henry Baker is a member." highroad, where all traces were lost. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should without a word or a look. Sholtos." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and death." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Yes." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too possible that we could bring him back to her? robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you dear old homesteads?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "But how will you look?" few hundred pounds.' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good you?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "That's no good." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly memory. his fortune, and I went back to pa. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the will be renamed. know all about it," he snarled. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'Never,' said I. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. noble correspondent could be. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "And who is her maid?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, arrested. You then--" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I chance." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my article?" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Always." "A client, then?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' matter." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "He disappeared so suddenly." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Breckinridge is his name." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. had died away into the silence from which it rose. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "And on what day did he meet his death?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, emerged. wedding?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" once more to my work. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name bill, which interests me deeply." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of seem to you to be relevant or not." question," said Holmes, smiling. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Whose house is it?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "No." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my question," said Holmes, smiling. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" figure." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. mystery." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on and the church but not where the lady lived." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" brandy and water within his reach. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his rose-bushes. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are fasten all the windows?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She sparkled upon his finger. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Pray continue your narrative." crowd. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for which our visitor detailed to us. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the