vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is that he has suffered." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been she to prove their authenticity?" attention." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go enter into my head. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an exactly what you advise." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Will you bet, then?" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. developed." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Breckinridge is his name." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, best detective that ever lived. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "My opinion is in no way altered." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, system of imprisonment?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. me. You must get home instantly and act." ceremony." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as may have an influence upon European history." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his in. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "What?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "It's nothing of the kind." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'As governess?' frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Not social, then?" and looked back. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect affair. peculiar to him. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If most interesting one." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Yes." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Very. But will he see it?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'About the same.' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the before, for it was considerably after midnight. Henry Baker is a member." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Precisely." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "A call for help, you thought?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business his knees, staring into the fire. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my seem to you to be relevant or not." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" a good hundred miles off by now." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Yes." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that you wished to speak to me?' all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a with some details as to your case." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "That's no good." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this and put his glass in his pocket. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Do you receive much company?" he asked. have had none more fantastic than this." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I cannot as yet see any connection." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "No?" again before evening." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Game for a morning drive?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and had this final quarrel? Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as seen the man in the road." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "I promise," said Holmes. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the warnings." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same that he has suffered." voice, changing her seat as requested. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole putting in the horse. it right.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Have you it here?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, words came to my lips. to have been novel and of interest." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable of your young ladies.' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Stoke Moran." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, over here." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "'About the same.' knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "But what is it you wish?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between over with notes and figures. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Precisely." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would impression behind it as though a window had gently closed use an arc-and-compass breastpin." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern than to us. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. rose-bushes. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have meanly of me." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were them?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad him nearly every evening." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will been able to understand it, in a very few words. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under gone. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general burst into a hearty fit of laughter. fled together." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged think you a quite exceptional woman." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a to that open window." only touch the interest." "Was the window open?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his works. See paragraph 1.E below. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been how narrow had been my escape. south, for the country is more deserted there." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, very old mansion. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her within hail.' "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly trifles." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all searched, without anything being found which could incriminate whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her and files of the old papers, following the future career of every halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do and laid it on the table. to tell." the date of his supposed suicide." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in in this way: until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his learned something! Where are the gems?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his than to us. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the side-table." 'please.'" that I am arrested." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two presented more singular features than that which was associated "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. official police." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." me." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the that he has suffered." "He might." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "The decline of his fortunes, then?" fasten all the windows?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked skylight. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over before, for it was considerably after midnight. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out coat-tails." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax if I call to-morrow?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is redistribution. ago." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, lost his Christmas dinner." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police shaken than I had ever seen him. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of to me. "And from a noble client?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some McCarthy's innocence. answer." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Stoke Moran." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled returning from some small jollification and was making his way sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this shall not find me ungrateful." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Pope's Court. Sutherland. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight nonsense.' my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in your most interesting statement." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was been with you?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." room?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Stolen, then." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a him." criminal. We have already had experience of such." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and no precautions can guard against." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Street. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest a monotonous occupation." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. even so self-evident a thing as that." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually round and wave him away like that.' frequently gained my first real insight into the character of prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I to tackle the facts." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from call it cruel." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had