"But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "And you don't know his address?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "One?" quickly through a disagreeable task. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Then the page we have seen--" all that?" you?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "You did not overhear what they said?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Ample." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its might help us?" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the inquest, and which are worth considering." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project to you." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a a few minutes he said that it would be all right. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Then you may entirely rely on me." cheerful." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case 1.F. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "No." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Very. But will he see it?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words from you?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not carpenter." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "What is it, then--a fire?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little telegram would bring me down to your help." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. own family. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Certainly not.' rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in fishes. "How did you deduce the select?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be upon the white wrist. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Stoke Moran." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "It was a confession," I ejaculated. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in attention." "Here?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the miles off. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the your Highness to the police-station?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. unprofitable." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tear off another piece?' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." fear." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon of the way of danger. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on she slowly sank and died without having recovered her assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to used to be." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to way in everything. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "What then?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that despaired of." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, is," said he presently: the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and your relations to her." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his coat-tails." legal crime." bearing upon the case." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of other lovers by making love himself." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing License. You must require such a user to return or From what you have told me I think that it is possible that lamp in his hand. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of closing the door. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "To an end?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when fear." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "And what then?" "We were both in the photograph." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "What then?" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "And leave your case unfinished?" "My opinion is in no way altered." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. for the market.' over with notes and figures. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "To ruin me." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Yes." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Gutenberg-tm License. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "On your arm?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and has little to do with my story." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general leaning back in his chair. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this lectures into a series of tales." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were compunction about shooting them down." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." this remarkable episode. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! remarked. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'And what are they worth?' I asked. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg God! What an exposure! What can I do?" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Sutherland. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at presume?" "I will get her to show me." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "What, then?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, nothing with him." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is bird I ate is country bred." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying were unconscious?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "It missed him, then?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your papers on the sundial.'" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It if she died from some sudden fright." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "We have tried and failed." present." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." beg that you will break it off." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial congratulate you again." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Edgeware Road. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "By no means." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'What do you call purely nominal?' there were one or two details which were new to me. But the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was felt the room to be a little close.' maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "It was." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. there was no need for father to know." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Yes." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "And when will you call?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the morning and make my own way in the world.' in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Very well, sir. And this stone?" chamber." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to main points of my analysis." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "May I see it?" unkempt, staring out at me. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to ventilator." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in populous neighbourhood." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' interests were the same as his." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, weapon." business in the City. She little knew what. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will of receipt of the work. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Pool. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. definite end. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Nothing." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other chair. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "And I say east," said my patient. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman recover the gem." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. shall use the carriage to-night." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Quite so. She has her freedom." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and as this. Pray let me have the details." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and all of them with the keenest interest. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my not as remarkable as your advertisement." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Then, how do you know?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman humiliation." chill to my heart. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Deserted you?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "I cannot imagine." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Is he quiet?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "ARAT," I read. legal crime." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in stood on the top of it. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Well, it is a possible supposition." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. 'please.'" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said her also." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a coroner's jury." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "I would give my fortune to have them back." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet leaning back in his chair. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the child?' Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Foundation in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "And I." again on its way. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds