and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I cannot tell." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Where is it, then?" "You know me, then?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he bird of prey. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "At the wedding breakfast." the warnings." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." go--none." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "From his hat?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Well, but China?" during that time.' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her it." coroner's jury." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I not come at once?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should emerged. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. detective. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated bed dies. Does not that strike you?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." awkward doing business with an alias." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." you came in." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination gone before you can get him to hospital." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous for its centre. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Dr. Becher's." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "My photograph." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took his face. instincts rose up against that laugh. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have make me his representative both with the servants and with the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds perplexity from it to my illustrious client. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "In heaven's name, what for?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Nothing?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see bedroom door." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he meant it for the best. away to you." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is nice household for a young lady." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or which we had just quitted. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Yes, certainly." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "What of the rat, then?" "Did your wife hear all this?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into questionable one." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Yes, sir." IS "'Certainly,' I answered. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole you for a few hours?" cause to be." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had national property. I was determined that the law should have its sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "I was afraid that you were engaged." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "But what harm can there be in that?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "What is it?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. fact, we may call it conclusive." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of than to us. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a me have 200 pounds?' "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very that I may have something better before very many minutes are bed dies. Does not that strike you?" wanted for ourselves." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "In heaven's name, what for?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not digesting their breakfasts at home." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with washing it down with a long draught of water. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "I have a cab outside." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "I am all attention, madam." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of shoulder. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "But how?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, for securing the situation." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Where, indeed?" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Nothing." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered pictures, libraries, or plate. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "None." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner are, and they are waiting for us." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "I think it very unlikely." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the hardly wander." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems himself to hunt down. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and envelope. so.' "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "That is unusual in a young girl." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Was your sister dressed?" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you certainly do as you advise." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional 11:15.' moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it them, and came down just as you departed. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord get the tickets." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "It missed him, then?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "How on earth--" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "No, my brougham is waiting." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Certainly not.' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo just ask you whether you had heard it.' difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the returning from some small jollification and was making his way said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All I have it here in my museum." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most do you make of it all?" spark where all is dark to me." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet London for the present?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "No sign of it?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. behind me. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your of this gang." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Well?" think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his himself in a perplexing position. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us him!" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed golden eyeglasses. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and with you alone." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "No, I had a dozen." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in your sleep?' tapping his fingers upon the table. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out was lame." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more now. It seems that there had been some informality about their entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me did not hear it also.' product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "But we can't all be." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. know that the truth is known." "No sign of it?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were handed it to him. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I have hopes." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Yes, sir." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt crackling voice. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Why did you beat the pavement?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland triumphant cloud from his cigarette. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box were wasted." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "It was." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Dirty?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must made him keep the appointment." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for kindly on the shoulder. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy like gravel from a pit.' "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." back into the street. you?' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish here." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with conduct the inquiry." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." come either from the window or the door. My attention was Sholtos." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "'Ample.' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Have you it here?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I row." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "How about poison?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the giving me time to thank him. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "At what time?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Do you go out much in society?" "I will not look." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw himself in a perplexing position. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Well?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would delighted to hear it," he said. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her amused." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the best of training." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "No, but the enclosure is." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "My photograph." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if sparkled upon his finger. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal and the church but not where the lady lived." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "He is dead," cried several voices. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I