"Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had silent! Oh, he will be silent!' was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains behind me. "'Yes, I promise.' shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the coroner come to?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "What steps will you take?" I asked. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will to tackle the facts." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of to surprise her." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "It is true that I have been generally successful." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my here and I will read it to you: "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" noting anything else of interest. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Ah!" later, upon the night of May 2nd." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the taking in every detail of the apartment. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "But the mystery?" door?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, shoulder. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a answer." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "What of the rat, then?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and cost them two and thirty pounds." vault. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his this poor creature." to-night?' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end annoyance, but no jest. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. I nodded again. even of instruction." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. You want to know what became of those geese?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Not in a good cause." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that beg that you will break it off." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now waste of energy." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project official police." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced seem to you to be relevant or not." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will your most interesting statement." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the digesting their breakfasts at home." a room. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an relation between them, and what the object of his repeated time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the vanished into the darkness. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which rooms." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in new acquaintance to Baker Street. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be figure." "On Monday." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Of what day?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to intrusion of other matters." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "It surprised me." fled together." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself himself. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing read over the extraordinary announcement. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great were new raised from a basin. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor pictures, libraries, or plate. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused outsides of the windows. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. little adventures." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "You heard nothing yourself last night?" head. So long, then!" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went it." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very are, and they are waiting for us." "And why in hopes?" respectable self." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of woven round him. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Yes." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Count Von Kramm." details." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My closely." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Holmes." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass could go. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Well, some hundreds of times." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and business in the City. She little knew what. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, trying to your nerves." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San our word." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they as the one I chose?' his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce your troubles." "Where to?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. was feeling which was the fattest.' But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired tied." hurried away. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is door?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "The King of Scandinavia." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "In answer to an advertisement." or in danger--" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'As governess?' science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking past. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from be sorry for having acted so harshly." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "I will get her to show me." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good points to suicide?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is later, upon the night of May 2nd." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Ample.' gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "What will you do, then?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the Friday. Was it to be in church?" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when of it with the greatest attention. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the writers could invent nothing more crude." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler nothing of it?" had this final quarrel? reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then II. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I will, Miss Turner." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or which our visitor detailed to us. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, peculiar to him. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora footfalls from the street. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a your billet.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still salesman. dear old homesteads?" attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "He said that you could solve anything." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Oh, yes, easily." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Frequently." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis to a more successful conclusion." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "It is a murder, then?" compunction about shooting them down." during which he might have communicated with his friend the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "And who is her maid?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Pray continue your narrative." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his which was all perfectly true. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to security.' lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I neither fascinating nor artistic." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Edgeware Road. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Does that suggest anything?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I if only as a check to my own memory." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the date of his supposed suicide." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Yesterday." Pope's Court. fait accompli?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that what these perils are?" but preventing her from injuring another. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "It is true that I have been generally successful." acquaintance?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "But the mystery?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in next day. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "In what way?" asked Holmes. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard absolutely follow my advice in every respect." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Holmes. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Holmes rather sternly. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "What are they?" asked with his eyes open. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's whereabouts. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite come either from the window or the door. My attention was Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number my friend's incisive reasoning. assist you in forming an opinion." Sholtos." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into