fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "But you can know nothing of this?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are bell. Holmes whistled. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "You are all wrong." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the on re-entering her father's house?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Which dealer's?' her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, gentleman's clothes. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "On the contrary, this is the right side." papers." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our companion. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a interests were the same as his." "Will you bet, then?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "And you don't know his address?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Nothing?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Your presence might be invaluable." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about from the brougham. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both What do you deduce from it?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and him, that man would not have given me such complete information "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco handed it to him. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "You think that he is dead?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. cigars in the box." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Can I be of assistance?" trying to your nerves." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring standing smiling on the door-step. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'Then let me do so?' highroad, where all traces were lost. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the if she died from some sudden fright." you in your example." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he nonsense.' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited skylight. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Do you go out much in society?" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "And your mother is alive?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Never to return." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Of what?" "That is it on the dressing-table." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such advice." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I never have." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." cause to be." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the trifles." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, such person." ran thus: George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil views." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no into the room. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Never to return." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat assist you in forming an opinion." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., what is your own theory as to what took place?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "One of the highest in England." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to him and tried to hold him back. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his of his shoulders. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Yes, there are nearly always some there." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "It was." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Perhaps I have." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, followed. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to His smile broadened. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Then you may be so with me." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." locked. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" to have that photograph." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" tail." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" For additional contact information: not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'I am sure if I had known--' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud dear old homesteads?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their he died? and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding night.' said he. sake, don't!" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body question," said Holmes, smiling. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless you." emerged. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without eat it." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, and looked back. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'Never,' said I. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And it is--" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "You saw the ventilator, too?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "'What do you call purely nominal?' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and bachelor.' "But you would not advise me to refuse?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, other, as fresh and trim as possible. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but when your master had gone out." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. to a more successful conclusion." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know people don't know." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "He might." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to lost nothing by them." the window, rose as we entered. the child." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I will get her to show me." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project always that they were such commands as a lady might with the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" at my remark. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of think you a quite exceptional woman." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him south, for the country is more deserted there." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "He is dead," cried several voices. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Bought." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & second." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "No?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "What then?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the stable lane now." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, room?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the bearing upon the case." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "What is it, then--a fire?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and your relations to her." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. which we had just quitted. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," of." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. acquaintance?" through." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand and effective." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly fatally injured? "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'Why that?' I asks. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man all-comprehensive glances. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Witness: Nothing definite. "But you have hopes?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King is," said he presently: "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he father's young wife. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion."