Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at you in yours." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what went to the Alpha were town bred." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Perfectly so." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "My dear Holmes!" "Then I am your man." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular the address that was given us in the advertisement. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I weary and pale-looking. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "I see no marks." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. some city in a dream. "Certainly." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "What do you mean?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping note?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade bonnet, and went out." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one DAMAGE. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the character. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" awkward doing business with an alias." at my own good fortune. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. meant it for the best. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer past. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the fact, we may call it conclusive." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in posted to-day." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was I was concerned in it." "Imitated." the matter." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and undoubtedly my uncle's." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was easy-going way." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his perplexity from it to my illustrious client. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, future lives." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, in a very precise fashion." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he new duties?' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Just look it up, then." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled said he at last. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," empty. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the putting in the horse. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that present." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." and a shock of very red hair. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and ventilator." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Yes, but only for you and me." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to this poor creature." "I am armed." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated my room." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "10th. John Swain cleared. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "No. What a strange idea!" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I was mad--insane." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think way in everything. becomes even more simple." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than little adventures." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower hard-headed British jury." would apply.' "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose Stoke Moran." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I am in hopes that she does." assist you in forming an opinion." society." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "No." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I empty. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all place of silver." his huge brown hands. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant who was a member of your goose club." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "But of what society?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Nearly eleven." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "I say that I have solved it." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "What then?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "So it appears." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. rooms." look upon these things in a different way." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a jewels which you have stolen?' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Munro.' soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday tied." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Yes." "I am about to be married." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Arthur Conan Doyle the inquest, and which are worth considering." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, go back?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes, all." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in the general public were present, then?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with could not account in any way for the presence of the missing tied." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he spare." "Did you observe the colour?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open writing, and yet I know it well." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." call for it in person on Monday morning.' The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Quite so. She has her freedom." must compliment you." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped must be when I saw the door open.' and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' there were one or two details which were new to me. But the do.' was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, The summons was a brief and urgent one. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "My stepfather's business papers." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Then the page we have seen--" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the public press." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and that he would see to anything that turned up. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses lost nothing by them." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Yes, it was twisted." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "He said too much." light and attacked it." me have 200 pounds?' to-night's adventure." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an him. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Where, then?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon room?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the keep the flames under. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in disappearance of these gems?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into where she found matters as described by the last witness. there when the Rucastles went away." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and particular state visit http://pglaf.org "'How far from the body?' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, him to go away.' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his bearing upon the case." have not had my rubber." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "The best possible." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us and shall probably return to London by the evening train." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a where she found matters as described by the last witness. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest to that open window." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Stoke Moran." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, reach." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "But she will refuse." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that manager. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about few hundred pounds.' and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "No, thank goodness, she did not." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Will you go?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, breakfast?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled despaired of." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "'Why that?' I asks. it." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'Oh, no.' is acting for the best. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post something of him before." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Yes." "So I am. Very much so." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "'Yes, I promise.' back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I case-book, which he consulted. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he be there in time for your coming." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which IS man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "My last client of the sort was a king." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Stolen." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his as this. Pray let me have the details." "I should be immensely obliged to you." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or simple cases which are so extremely difficult." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "You will not go there first?" "Well, some hundreds of times." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "'Why that?' I asks. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "But how did you gain them?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there front of the hall door has given its name to the place. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I came to find a friend." wedding?" "Witness: It was. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears soul! here is her carriage at the door." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If way in everything. over here." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "I think it very unlikely." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy good-night and bustled off upon her way. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord,