difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon directly by questioning you." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the several quiet little villages up there." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I indiscretion." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a presented more singular features than that which was associated regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in rooms." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Really! You surprise me." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Ah!" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and and put his glass in his pocket. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you tapping his fingers upon the table. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had upon the white wrist. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their the station." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "BALLARAT." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the too. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for weigh very heavily upon my conscience." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a you understand?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four all?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Your sister is dead, then?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would matters immensely." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "You horrify me!" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was tightly behind him. very morning of my second wedding." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for something of him before." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the shaken than I had ever seen him. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, it right.' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their we went to search for him, face downward in a little while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say placed his cuttings. not fit the lock." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the been shamefully used." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the nice household for a young lady." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that likely to be some crony of the landlady's." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on carried out of court." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the loss of it. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. bled considerably." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. papers on the sundial.'" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few been able to understand it, in a very few words. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "The best possible." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And sufficient punishment." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." upon a handsome competence. "If so, much may have happened between." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our delighted to hear it," he said. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front carried out of court." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate face and glided from the room. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as The telegram which we eventually received came late one night fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of photograph?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Could he throw no light?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. third from London." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "I cannot think." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If remarked. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, to Leatherhead. "Yes." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "And from a noble client?" Cross for the Continent." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Here?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached rooms." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from come either from the window or the door. My attention was has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and already been minutely examined." papers." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself just called myself is not exactly my own." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, a suggestive one." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the one of them." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy come either from the window or the door. My attention was grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" you?" Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Miss Holder?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' awkward doing business with an alias." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of business matters.' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Holmes, the busybody!" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is you." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "No, I had a dozen." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to with you?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I am still in the dark." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was go back?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. over part of the map. "What do you read?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs said he, "my real name is James Ryder." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. beyond words. was lame." it." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the said he. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who than to us. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. business at Coburg Square is serious." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and cigar and let me expound." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" girl said." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. lost nothing by them." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Indeed! Whose, then?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I am still in the dark." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "How do you know, then?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I am about to be married." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." to a more successful conclusion." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'What would be the hours?' I asked. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Thank you. Pray proceed." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall papers." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United already referred to. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" promised to bring home. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small without a word or a look. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to respectable self." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "What, then?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." fait accompli?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "What, then, did Peterson do?" least a most suspicious remark." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Edgeware Road. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Pray do so." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." better in every way that they should make their position a little that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were tell them apart.' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature arms and began to sob in a high treble key. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the south-west, I see." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are business?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "'I am sure that I do not know.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I should wish to." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For that you saw all that I did." "Why, what do you mean?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the rose-bushes. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps his cane at the bell-pull. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. distinguish the words: the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter subject to the trademark license, especially commercial learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One frequently gained my first real insight into the character of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call burst into a hearty fit of laughter. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "But how could you guess what the motive was?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I should be immensely obliged to you." your only hope of safety." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to will be renamed. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "It is solved." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Stolen, then." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "'And what salary do you ask?' It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came companion. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "'Never,' said I. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had generous with you in money matters.' "How did you trace it, then?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Sutherland?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Leadenhall Street--and--" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "'Quite sure, dad.' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "What, then?"