"Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "'There is a drive, then?' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "How did you deduce the select?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of dear old homesteads?" congratulate you again." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I did not hear it also.' red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Henry Baker is a member." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "But it has twice been burgled." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. back to my heart. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. gentleman's clothes. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Was your sister dressed?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Most admirably.' "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned made him keep the appointment." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away shaken than I had ever seen him. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "And on what day did he meet his death?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who introspective fashion. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I will do it." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and not interfere, come what may. You understand?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "How about poison?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." were wasted." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I see many objections to any such theory." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. tear off another piece?' "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "How did that help you?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a stammered. "'Is purely nominal.' "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. could not have written that. It is the German who is so of." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my clanging. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves death." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the golden eyeglasses. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; his face. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too way: II. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained you found me to-night--and running through the front room she - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to compunction about shooting them down." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "The landlord of the Alpha." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another His smile broadened. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Here?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance The telegram which we eventually received came late one night it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Where to?" conclusions. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we ready to-morrow?' horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By imbecility!" he cried. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them approach us with offers to donate. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable geese which you supplied to the Alpha." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, never will be, entirely cleared up. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might evidence," I remarked. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon shaken than I had ever seen him. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in me. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no married her." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Where, then?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Well?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Then I shall certainly come." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Of what day?" said he. are, and they are waiting for us." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the date of his supposed suicide." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must did not hear it also.' until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to I shall communicate with you." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The man. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "'I am sure if I had known--' noting anything else of interest. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming remarked. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "I have come for advice." address. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the woven round him. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have situation." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal my former friend and companion. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "9th. McCauley cleared. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Have you it here?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need hurried away. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his my secret was safe in his possession. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Never to return." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where shoulder; "he's all right." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address putting in the horse. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this awaited us upon the table. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you to that open window." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the very morning of my second wedding." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady strode off upon his way. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty allusion to a rat. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. we went to search for him, face downward in a little strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw your most interesting statement." "And now?" I asked. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance empty. chance at all." once more for Briony Lodge. "I say it is." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I say that I have solved it." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." said he. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private bell. Holmes whistled. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents with her." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the coroner come to?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Then I shall certainly come." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Very well, sir. And this stone?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a writers could invent nothing more crude." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present affection." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." to have been novel and of interest." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent this truth that in these little records of our cases which you your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Sutherland. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., writers could invent nothing more crude." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" quickly through a disagreeable task. "What, then?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the station." "I see no marks." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Yes, only one." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "But his lameness?" that you can jump it.' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that some terrible trap for her." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a answered with a sidelong glance. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. appeal." "I am all attention, madam." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very unprecedented a position." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more detained." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, against a man in the prime of life?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they not within a twentieth part of the market price." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "'Which dealer's?' "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed handed it to him. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the strode off upon his way. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, most interesting one." excitement. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'I am sure that I do not know.' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his and the church but not where the lady lived." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. already been minutely examined." "And did you observe any change in her then?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "The murder was done with it." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now you understand?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." window when the police appeared." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall you." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of attention." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, soul! here is her carriage at the door." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy strong reason behind." spark where all is dark to me." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than not interfere, come what may. You understand?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Never." are, I think, all that we need." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the name is different." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "My dear Holmes!" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Does that suggest anything?" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to without a word or a look. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains new acquaintance to Baker Street. "That also I could fathom." "And did you observe any change in her then?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such is," said he presently: down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Is 4 pounds a week.' consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was