just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired room. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire foresight and the moral retrogression?" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between meant it for the best. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Heh?' "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Then I am your man." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "That also I could fathom." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third hour." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Yesterday." "I cannot think." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. cheerful." recover the gem." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered should be so warm over such a trifle." "But he might be a bachelor." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to highroad, where all traces were lost. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Pray do so." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for interested in these little problems, and since you are good My friend smiled. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "An enemy?" most interesting one." "'Then let me do so?' scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, overpowering excitement and concern. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I came to find a friend." "You are hungry," I remarked. open." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "And what then?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual must be when I saw the door open.' my little problems." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to enter into my head. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with round and wave him away like that.' yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning I leave." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea our word." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'And the work?' of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the strength of mind to control. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, attention." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social true." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "The landlord of the Alpha." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. to-night?" I asked. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were room. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you awaited us upon the table. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and I shall be with you presently." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could dramatic, in fact." "I will do it." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had http://www.gutenberg.net "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "By no means." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied you understand?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. sofa. This way, please!" nice household for a young lady." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the coroner come to?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "This photograph!" can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the in his hands." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "How often?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Heh?' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Is he quiet?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Witness: It was. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, was a loud and authoritative tap. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' this poor creature." man. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and prisoner's face. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "ARAT," I read. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary heavy and sharp instrument." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the stable lane now." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I cannot tell." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "And you can do nothing until then?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Very much so." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Count Von Kramm." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret least a fellow-countryman. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his stammered. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and power." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "It is very kind of you." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." this man was intellectual?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Her father is very rich?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "And why?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Well?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," passage and a tap at the door. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your of fine shops and stately business premises that they really opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. salesman. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding ways including including checks, online payments and credit card business." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "There are none." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "And I say east," said my patient. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some out." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an means taking possession of that which another person has a prior agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send to affect your life." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in until night should bring an explanation. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of Mr. Rucastle's." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given is a common subject for conversation. whole matter to your consideration." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps room. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been had picked up in the wood. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then very old mansion. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "So I have heard." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the 'please.'" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the this as likely?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark most interesting one." with frightened eyes at his accuser. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "'Then let me do so?' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. there is a decided draught." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite were wasted." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the roots. she to prove their authenticity?" one of them." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "The vanishing of the lady." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the chill to my heart. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a weapon." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you that I can to serve you." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and if I call to-morrow?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to long narrative. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Then what has happened to him?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely and shall probably return to London by the evening train." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Then the page we have seen--" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "So I am. Very much so." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "The gentleman I describe." "But we can't all be." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to his wife has ceased to love him." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "But his lameness?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. heavy and sharp instrument." Street. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." nice household for a young lady." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Your sister is dead, then?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "This concluded the examination of the witness." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found cheerful." tear off another piece?' what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. that I am arrested." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it you?' "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the four million human beings all jostling each other within the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "You have it, sir, just as it happened." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some three fields round his house, and there he would take his chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear these bleak autumnal evenings." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Yes." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the when your master had gone out." "Yesterday." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "I was afraid that you were engaged." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Yes, he did." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a all that?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your means taking possession of that which another person has a prior higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with thin legs towards the fire. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" very morning of my second wedding." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he