instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told off." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to Leatherhead. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and purpose of examination. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it wanted for ourselves." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough down in his armchair and closing his eyes. you want, then?' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. his fortune, and I went back to pa. "'Yes.' weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual certainly do as you advise." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the inquest, and which are worth considering." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a power." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "My opinion is in no way altered." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I has little to do with my story." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw people don't know." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, my special province." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and appointment with me for six o'clock?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this know that the truth is known." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. question," said Holmes, smiling. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, matters immensely." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in I held the little printed slip to the light. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a be there in time for your coming." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie as he remarks, very much against the son." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "What then?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked never will be, entirely cleared up. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still was used.' "That also I could fathom." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the inner apartment." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary to you." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'Never.' luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, legal crime." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "It came here." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself his grey eyes. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "What will you say?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Stoke Moran." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man take the flies, but not before." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "What is it, then--a fire?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun of Mr. Rucastle's." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Absolutely none." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" bird I ate is country bred." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, putting in the horse. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "What, then?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend said I. way: "How are you getting on?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while when you have done it." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the have I gained?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and have an American origin." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was present." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Pool. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the night.' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I have seen the police." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "No bad?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." bell. Holmes whistled. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. have one." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "What! You do not mean bodies?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was pictures, libraries, or plate. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you she used." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Nothing." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to acquaintance?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "May I see it?" to some other building. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind than to us. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the envelope. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to dates and names. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Never to return." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through investigation." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the devil!" not as remarkable as your advertisement." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A felt the room to be a little close.' "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "But how?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as dates and names. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Your presence might be invaluable." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Texas, I think." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of if only as a check to my own memory." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I away into the river." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was without success. At last the little money which I had saved began given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "In what way?" asked Holmes. "I will not look." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Then I shall certainly come." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given call you and give you the chance." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much nonsense.' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, rat could hardly pass through." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it important." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "At what time?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where in this way: passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove hereditary King of Bohemia." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most page at http://pglaf.org "Breckinridge is his name." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was did not hear it also.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "But what will you do?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see my little problems." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "What do you make of that, Watson?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my thirty. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching enter into my head. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. cheerful." attention." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one this Miss Turner." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the call you and give you the chance." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, I have it here in my museum." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Yes." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "None." "This concluded the examination of the witness." fishes. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then overpowering excitement and concern. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must strange features which were associated with the two crimes which at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "In which, sir?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the with you?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of the date of his supposed suicide." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Then you may entirely rely on me." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." detained." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. of the vacancies.' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon records." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. out." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Was your sister dressed?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I will do it." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do read it out to me." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Well." Does that suggest anything?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated drawing your inferences." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I know where it is." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here murdered man." "Not in the least." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well dramatic, in fact." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "But how?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded that?' houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, other, as fresh and trim as possible. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips society." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "How do you know, then?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography affection." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "What! a murderous attack?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important brandy and water within his reach. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the some city in a dream. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Can I be of assistance?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, tell them apart.' himself to hunt down. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. brandy and water within his reach. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from promised to bring home. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Yes, sir." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming You want to know what became of those geese?" beyond words. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Yes, he did." "I will try. What is it?" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they 11:15.' dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." was shining brightly. "I am following you closely," I answered. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR man. I know him from the photograph." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a read over the extraordinary announcement. imbecility!" he cried. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a there." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Farm upon the left." suddenly upon us." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his tell them apart.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more