down in his armchair and closing his eyes. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman security.' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "But how?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the ceiling. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" must compliment you." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the case before our client came into the room." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Why did you pick him?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. tension within him. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney at my own good fortune. exactly what you advise." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to-night's adventure." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Pray be precise as to details," said he. sofa. This way, please!" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, himself in a perplexing position. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Street. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten ashen face. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by too. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further not, dad?" she asked. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "A call for help, you thought?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, union?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Literary Archive Foundation with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." may have an influence upon European history." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "That sounds a little paradoxical." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Tired-looking or fresh?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such fled together." crime." "Yes." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I never have." compunction about shooting them down." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Then how many are there?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Certainly." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main his huge brown hands. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "'Certainly not.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'What then?' I asked. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of daring than any effort of the imagination." "The vanishing of the lady." "Not social, then?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "'How far from the body?' paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we breakfast and whispered something to her husband. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'I shall certainly be there.' had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "The best possible." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Look there!" said he. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with second." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the in the hope of finding them." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "You will not go there first?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to call it cruel." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are fish-monger and a tide-waiter." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. pound a week." discontent upon his features. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Thank you. And your address?" "What?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than help us in this matter." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An criminal. We have already had experience of such." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or I held the little printed slip to the light. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "He disappeared so suddenly." "I say that I have solved it." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, stalked out of the room. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin this as likely?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, shall use the carriage to-night." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a mysterious end." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I occurred." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the window, rose as we entered. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and yards of it?' reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep fled together." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked signal between you and your father? said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack get the tickets." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Arthur Conan Doyle for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I promise," said Holmes. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred DISSOLVED. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "When did it break out?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of sofa. This way, please!" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them which are rolled in Rotterdam." colour had been driven from his face. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the investigation." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. not personally threatened." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." public press." "What do you mean?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of case-book, which he consulted. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I of your young ladies.' make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue village inn over there?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & prove to be little relation between the different incidents of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my floor. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" all-comprehensive glances. drawing your inferences." "You horrify me!" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and wedding?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and must compliment you." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who it." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, in a friendly supper." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "The Cedars?" "Do you know him?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I cannot tell." fashion which was peculiar to him. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they nice household for a young lady." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Always." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a call the police, let the police find what they can.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Will you go?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "And the cigar-holder?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, best detective that ever lived. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Have you her photograph?" sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Get out!" said he. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and his wife has ceased to love him." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the present." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "VIOLET HUNTER." "I am in hopes that she does." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. even of instruction." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "And why?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "'How far from the body?' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no way in everything. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Stolen, then." "Not I." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before wall." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were that threaten you." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my never came back." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "I am still in the dark." "Did you observe the colour?" to a more successful conclusion." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, and effective." footfalls from the street. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without perplexity from it to my illustrious client. The King stared at him in amazement. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Where is it, then?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, in this way: St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Dr. Gregory B. Newby For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right I think that I could be of assistance to you." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary when your master had gone out." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "I see many objections to any such theory." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'I have already given you my word.' where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "No bad?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon murdered man." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Was your sister dressed?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "And what did you see?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "I see no marks." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it