contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning colour had been driven from his face. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my that he will be back before evening." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I assure you that I am in your hands." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. me upon any point which I do not make clear." Mrs. Toller serenely. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want woven round him. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "You will not go there first?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes shag which I had seen upon the previous night. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "That sounds a little paradoxical." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside weapon." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have upon a handsome competence. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch straighten it?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his minor matters until to-morrow." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Yes." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." three of the beryls in it, was missing. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "And that is--" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and effective." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. invisible to me," I remarked. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I see no marks." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK approach us with offers to donate. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I am armed." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Not in a good cause." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The http://www.gutenberg.net matter." "10th. John Swain cleared. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." and the whole place is in a blaze." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "But how?" there is a decided draught." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Yes?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about new duties?' precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, upon the white wrist. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. used to be." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Yes, only one." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. other, as fresh and trim as possible. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you subject to the trademark license, especially commercial awaited us upon the table. again on its way. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Yes, he did." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to carried out of court." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that some water from a caraffe. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. never will be, entirely cleared up. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang to-night?" I asked. then?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving giving me time to thank him. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have you?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, this as likely?" yet." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all intrusion of other matters." easy-going way." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Of what day?" his wife has ceased to love him." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Your sister is dead, then?" business came to an end." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I was sure that I might rely on you." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" straighten it?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different this unhappy family?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "And how?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser hand, madam?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly awkward doing business with an alias." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "What then?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer eat it." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "And I say east," said my patient. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a congratulate you again." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave about here speaks of his kindness to him." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" I nodded again. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what may never be exposed to such a temptation." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Chief Executive and Director "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a looking up at the numbers of the houses." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. awkward doing business with an alias." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Nothing." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and not interfere, come what may. You understand?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "And sit in the dark?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been closely." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's wedding?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, him. and looked back. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for one of them." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Nothing." comes from the middle window." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an in the hope of finding them." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had do.' "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a it." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me his eyes and forehead. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Not social, then?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the coroner come to?" be there in time for your coming." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "And you can do nothing until then?" amused." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "No bad?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Nothing?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never feature." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "'Certainly not.' 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "A confidential servant?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet wedding?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "'Yes.' records." happened." cup of tea. "Ha! you find it so?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he train.' individual and becomes the badge of a society." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the morning and make my own way in the world.' keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "The Cedars?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting John Swain, of St. Augustine. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have tied." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "It missed him, then?" I am not easy in my mind about them." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The questioning and rather startled gaze. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up which should have the effect of calling the attention of the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very already referred to. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Very murderous indeed." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the running down." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Not I." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I the ceiling. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, think you a quite exceptional woman." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm know that the truth is known." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how him, that man would not have given me such complete information every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. place no limit on the sum I may draw." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor taking in every detail of the apartment. "Seven!" I answered. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she some mystery and the punishment of some crime." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great disappearance of these gems?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I think you a quite exceptional woman." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the whereabouts. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong constraint." "I think that it is very probable." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the general public were present, then?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "I have hopes." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I your sleep?' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear,