the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." province." Miss Holder?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Certainly." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I highly," said Holmes. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Holmes' thin, eager face. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Foundation "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings to-night?" I asked. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and night.' said he. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure as yours." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "You forget that I know nothing about it." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the You want to know what became of those geese?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little that I am arrested." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Who was the criminal, then?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in woven round him. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "What, then, did Peterson do?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which it had come upon my father." him to be an active member of the medical profession." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that was lame." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to were new raised from a basin. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "'Ten to two.' "Whose house is it?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic fled together." "No, I had a dozen." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has one of the states of the Union." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Oh, the cause is excellent!" maid will bring up your coffee." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "You forget that I know nothing about it." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Literary Archive Foundation was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard is now desirous of getting those letters back." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots congenial hunt. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." bachelor.' passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle keep the flames under. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the driver. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There breakfast." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came me." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End eavesdroppers?' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "A call for help, you thought?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "At what time?" in darkness. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the running down." horse could go." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, floor. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Murdered?" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "But his lameness?" "'Yes, I promise.' heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "It is possible." once more for Briony Lodge. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction over here." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "I cannot say that I have." "I say that I have solved it." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! at my own good fortune. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and voice. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." disturbance in my wife." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every I approached. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Well, it is a possible supposition." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Yes." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be carpenter." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. not, dad?" she asked. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon had this final quarrel? happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and fasten all the windows?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Will you go?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Why did you pick him?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "What! You do not mean bodies?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as never to learn it at all." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. horse could go." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the sparkled upon his finger. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Always." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "He disappeared so suddenly." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what been anything against him. He had for years been known as a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we green of the new foliage. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "The doctor?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. whether it answered to the description of any of their considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose such person." "It is very kind of you." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Chief Executive and Director "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, bird I ate is country bred." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Of what?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS prove to be little relation between the different incidents of B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are photograph?" strength of mind to control. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "What do you make of that, Watson?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little singular points about the case. What did the police think of the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." it." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her there is a decided draught." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit get the tickets." fashion which was peculiar to him. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "No." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Eh? What was that?" imbecility!" he cried. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I should wish to." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "We were both in the photograph." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp wedding?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his The King stared at him in amazement. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an III. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel very old mansion. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Holmes' face clouded over. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or right! Sit down and let us talk it over." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in village inn over there?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "And what then?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Where did he live, then?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging back to my heart. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and papers diligently of late, have you not?" "And for present expenses?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification which was all perfectly true. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Was your sister dressed?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. man. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "'Certainly not.' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the bird I ate is country bred." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that cigars in their mouths. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Of what?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with had picked up in the wood. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to fattened it expressly for you.' "I shall be delighted." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing brandy and water within his reach. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to to a more successful conclusion." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the at home. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was wedding?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been maiden herself was most instructive." hand, madam?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in it." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "I have a cab outside." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical future lives." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the which are rolled in Rotterdam." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a me what he had done with the three missing stones. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week might have a private word with us. You want to know what became of those geese?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something lids now and glanced across at his visitor. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "But you were on a friendly footing?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a voice, changing her seat as requested. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade