uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a happened." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Farm upon the left." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his I think that I could be of assistance to you." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "She will not sell." wedding?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your prisoner's face. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a to have been novel and of interest." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. annoyance, but no jest. tension within him. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get read over the extraordinary announcement. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which cigars in their mouths. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles felt the room to be a little close.' "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "That is possible." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "And how in the world did you find them?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, friend's singular character. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out tell them apart.' use an arc-and-compass breastpin." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Certainly, madam." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Look there!" said he. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting God! What an exposure! What can I do?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile passage and a tap at the door. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Where, then?" business at Coburg Square is serious." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across strength." "What can it mean?" I gasped. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" never came back." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "But she will refuse." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and beg that you will break it off." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "9th. McCauley cleared. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for without success. At last the little money which I had saved began hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'I am sure that I do not know.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Witness: It was. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the that you saw all that I did." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my happened." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Married! When?" Clair, of Lee." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: tail." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "And Miss Sutherland?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, in this note: corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "I am following you closely," I answered. "But to whom?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to as the one I chose?' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you unkempt, staring out at me. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother redistribution. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "You heard nothing yourself last night?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." something of him before." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; said he at last. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "She showed me, as I told you she would." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his definite end. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." front of me. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "I am armed." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." that you can jump it.' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "And what did you learn from him?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots fasten all the windows?" ashen face. him to be an active member of the medical profession." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note child?' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. heavy and sharp instrument." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel it." "Upon what point?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from said I. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. views." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his to a light-house. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his presented which may be striking and bizarre without being you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "But your client--" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "No. His orders were to stay in the house." for its centre. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of words came to my lips. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son through." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are arrangements." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom detained." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Ample." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to 1.F. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "It is no ordinary one." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "It may not come to that," said Holmes. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, dates and names. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "When did she vanish, then?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest done what I asked you, Jones?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Holmes' thin, eager face. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working weapon." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to out." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my compunction about shooting them down." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" approach us with offers to donate. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "And your mother is alive?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or you understand?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a not as remarkable as your advertisement." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur spare." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Entirely." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good with her." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "'No, I know no one in these parts.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "It was an hour's good drive." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You weary and pale-looking. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds highly," said Holmes. exactly what you advise." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by fattened it expressly for you.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the date of his supposed suicide." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." chance at all." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have crackling voice. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the with some details as to your case." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I III. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I think it very unlikely." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts if only as a check to my own memory." "An accident, I presume?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the way in." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." upon a handsome competence. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is arrangements." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Watson," he said cordially. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "In which, sir?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have his eyes and forehead. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has there is a decided draught." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Did you observe the colour?" "Where did he live, then?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were down. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Yes." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is go from here to the Strand." stalked out of the room. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first is acting for the best. imbecility!" he cried. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried danger is over." for the market.' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "And for present expenses?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Yes, I have one waiting." "That is easily got." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who to-night." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Entirely." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily not personally threatened." from the brougham. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long because she had spent so short a time in this country that she he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and brandy and water within his reach. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she