corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, during which he might have communicated with his friend the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "But you were on a friendly footing?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "How many? I don't know." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left acted in my house last night?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. that you can jump it.' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Farm upon the left." in darkness. "Eh? What was that?" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the said I. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'Oh, no.' unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be ways including including checks, online payments and credit card me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Eyford." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "But who is he?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Not particularly." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the fire. You quite follow me?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case late." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "On your arm?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, particular state visit http://pglaf.org suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in a very grave face. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "How did you trace it, then?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Yes, it was twisted." detective. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "But it has twice been burgled." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps you." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., fasten all the windows?" them?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Pray do so." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a man. may have an influence upon European history." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Pray continue your narrative." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'Stolen!' he cried. "May I see it?" his huge brown hands. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his straighten it?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as placed his cuttings. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, was a lad." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "'Yes, I promise.' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of fine shops and stately business premises that they really ordinary clothes on?" him nearly every evening." confronted him. "And for present expenses?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'What are you doing there?' he asked. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a shoulder. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "No good news?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Will you go?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Yesterday." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, emerged. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several direction." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Yes." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, my special province." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," said I. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press carriage. It was a chestnut." Again Holmes raved in the air. "She showed me, as I told you she would." know all about it," he snarled. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular place, I think that there is good ground to think that the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I was sure that I might rely on you." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "The knees of his trousers." "And your father? Did you tell him?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "And you don't know his address?" "And I to find an enemy." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in woven round him. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the closing the door. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. upon the sideboard." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "And you thought he was pulled back?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "And what did you see?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in absolutely follow my advice in every respect." call the police, let the police find what they can.' Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress that he will be back before evening." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long call you and give you the chance." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have call the police, let the police find what they can.' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at your troubles." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a could not have written that. It is the German who is so character. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" narrative." on re-entering her father's house?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I will not look." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such other, as fresh and trim as possible. electronic works and all of them with the keenest interest. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk astonishment. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "But how could you guess what the motive was?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the sound at heart." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "To an English lawyer named Norton." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right His name is Francis Prosper." "I have my revolver," said I. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary crowd. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Lee, in the county of Kent." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "And how did you verify them?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Where, then, is my wife?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." placed his cuttings. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down and wait." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his he. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'Entirely.' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "So I heard. You have him here?" speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "The best possible." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes States. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Indeed! Whose, then?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Not particularly." to tell." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that been shamefully used." go from here to the Strand." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional outbreak?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself your sleep?' when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and put his glass in his pocket. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "But how will you look?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was weighed down with some great anxiety. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who against a man in the prime of life?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It with her." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I see many objections to any such theory." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I am sure." enough to aid us in our search." your Highness to the police-station?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. posted to-day." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I came to find a friend." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "It is his hat." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "From his hat?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are think, you have already met." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he my secret was safe in his possession. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped