at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give away into the river." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. second." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Where to?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? papers on the sundial.'" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "To the police?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and the colonel ushered me in. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "From his hat?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, purpose of examination. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was again on its way. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" of them has the shutters up.' will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "The doctor?" "No, I am descending." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my that the gas is not laid on in his house?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I will try. What is it?" "What shall I do?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "And from a noble client?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to a little more before I quite committed myself. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" to-night's adventure." of this gang." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always annoyance, but no jest. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I am sure." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "We have tried and failed." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" other means.' Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm success. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "'A dozen yards or so.' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I she to prove their authenticity?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and it need not interfere very much with one's other drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never never to learn it at all." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, where I was soon asleep. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in coroner's jury." the Red-headed League." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' some terrible trap for her." stalked out of the room. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "And I." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and maid will bring up your coffee." read it out to me." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat have I gained?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Pray let us have it, for all that." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal was used.' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "What then?" long narrative. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Eyford at 11:15.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "What do you make of that, Watson?" for the market.' even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Pray tell us what has happened to you." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us presented which may be striking and bizarre without being to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "It must be recovered." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "That is easily got." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his you found me to-night--and running through the front room she surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "And the murderer?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this DAMAGE. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On without success. At last the little money which I had saved began there when the Rucastles went away." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace used to be." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am wedding?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely of campaign. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said you." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is McCarthy's innocence. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there his face. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "You horrify me." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, lumber-room." in. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by are windows in it, of course?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally recall any case within my experience which looked at the first returned to France?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking drove away. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of hurried by. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Yes." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "If so, much may have happened between." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw delighted to hear it," he said. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Yes." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. of the vacancies.' Clair, of Lee." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Why? What do you mean?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened speckled band?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave late." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the inner apartment." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than help us in this matter." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the late." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. McCarthy's innocence. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the roots. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. delighted to hear it," he said. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the instincts rose up against that laugh. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The giving me time to thank him. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was himself to tell his story. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the happened." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that IS husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he him and tried to hold him back. crime." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between three fields round his house, and there he would take his unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." His smile broadened. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed highroad, where all traces were lost. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "That is unusual in a young girl." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR I took the paper from him and read as follows: introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting delighted to hear it," he said. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "That is easily got." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would III. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a anything to do with the matter?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover weary and pale-looking. hand, madam?" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "It is half-past ten now." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and mystery." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. approach us with offers to donate. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "And how?" "Holmes, the busybody!" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are you do it in twenty minutes!' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange peculiar to him. "What office?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden this man was intellectual?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "And is that all?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent suspect him." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "None." Watson," he said cordially. "It is a murder, then?" out of this horrible affair." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant not use it unless it is absolutely needed." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, outside." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that