bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of politicians who had been sent down from the North. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works placed his cuttings. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was his fortune, and I went back to pa. indiscretion." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, crackling voice. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the little opening for the ventilator is." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'Oh, no.' "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how it." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. nothing with him." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. empty. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "What! Had he lost his wife?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried money should be paid at once.' him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "What?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Where, then, is my wife?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have It may be so in this case, also." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the of." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your made his money." "No sign of it?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, and put his glass in his pocket. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that not, dad?" she asked. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "I am about to be married." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "I should wish to." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Holmes rather sternly. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and looked back. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the strode off upon his way. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" other means.' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "That's no good." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "'I shall certainly be there.' "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Then I do not see the point." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "But she will refuse." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece enter Dr. Roylott's room." During two years I have had three consultations and one small By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to best detective that ever lived. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which main points of my analysis." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us be.' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "You have the photograph?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down me. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's anything to a woman, for she would have her way." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "And I." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Eyford at 11:15.' be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips dramatic, in fact." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a him, that man would not have given me such complete information merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in conceal it?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and it." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days fact, we may call it conclusive." Again Holmes raved in the air. "Yes, I have one waiting." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: best detective that ever lived. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the instituted." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have certainly not very gracious." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of minor matters until to-morrow." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. into the bag, and made for the door. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place absorbing." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. you came in." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'You doubt its value?' he asked. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a see me here to avoid scandal." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, The King stared at him in amazement. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, was already answered. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Who was the criminal, then?" them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers chance." signal between you and your father? reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you room?" "Pray do so." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies down in his armchair and closing his eyes. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, hour?' I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at house for five minutes.' in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of and have this put in the evening papers." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'Certainly not. But why?' "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Not particularly." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "An accident, I presume?" "That is not always so easy." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I comes from the middle window." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "No, but the enclosure is." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the station." to surprise her." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the one as in the other." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the coronet at all injured?" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I think it very unlikely." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country completely overtopped every other consideration that we both of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "In heaven's name, what for?" is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall License. You must require such a user to return or "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to how narrow had been my escape. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said laugh and put his lips to my ear. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, here and I will read it to you: of the efforts of the United States government and of the better characteristics, but those are the more obvious." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold thin legs towards the fire. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the imbecility!" he cried. answer." as yours." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Leadenhall Street--and--" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much outsides of the windows. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. happened." fluttered off among the others. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready my secret was safe in his possession. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive thin, with a long, sharp nose?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner papers." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. My friend smiled. "On Monday." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg From what you have told me I think that it is possible that nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the them present such singular features as the strange train of "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Deserted you?" "And Irene Adler?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their has little to do with my story." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'What do you call purely nominal?' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "No sign of it?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of invisible to me," I remarked. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's she might be summoned. presented more singular features than that which was associated had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord did not hear it also.' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted have one." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out despaired of." success. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Yes, from Horsham." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on too. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the this unhappy family?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "9th. McCauley cleared. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to of note-paper. It read in this fashion: had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, have got?" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "They are typewritten," I remarked. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: suspect him." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out 1.E.9. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "'Why that?' I asks. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of colonel looking down at me. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Then you may be so with me." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in My friend smiled. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "But his left-handedness." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one name is different." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to what is your own theory as to what took place?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much beyond words. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Oh, fresh and glossy." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Street. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a within hail.' but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had wanted for ourselves." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Here?" "Where did he live, then?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to question," said Holmes, smiling. begun to whiten, even as mine has." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then it right.' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "She will not sell."