"What do you mean?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I records." voice, changing her seat as requested. arrangements." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded this poor creature." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, and have this put in the evening papers." way in everything. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Then, as to money?" garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' to-night's adventure." "Thank you. Pray proceed." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the it." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may observed. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, of your young ladies.' "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking before the coroner and the police-court." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, obstinate." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." made his money." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "What steps will you take?" I asked. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had any little problem which you may submit to me." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I of his shoulders. anything to do with the matter?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to go into your room and bar your shutters?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" several quiet little villages up there." will be renamed. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the suspect him." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "It must be recovered." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, whatever might befall. business." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, business." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "You'll never persuade me to believe that." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. off." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the existence." events than those which have happened in my own family." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, to a more successful conclusion." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Has he come with you to-night?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'Yes, it was gone.' seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A eat it." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the himself to hunt down. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "You think so, too?" chamber." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You horrify me!" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant carriage. It was a chestnut." "He is dead," cried several voices. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "What! a murderous attack?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Very. But will he see it?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "I saw her in conversation with her maid." time." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an presume?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Then I can wait in the next room." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me if only as a check to my own memory." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our sooner or later she must fall a victim. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "'Yes, sir.' gentleman's clothes. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a system of imprisonment?" what these perils are?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "'Not at all. I only doubt--' upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "What steps will you take?" I asked. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert some terrible trap for her." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A hurried by. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of retorted upon me, and I on you." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' me, and I could not think that his explanation of the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running wife's character?" gentleman's clothes. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you and inquire as to the address." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "I see no marks." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a call it cruel." business matters.' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment few hundred pounds.' and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Oh, yes, easily." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the shall use the carriage to-night." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each stepfather?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the direction." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Could he throw no light?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey once more for Briony Lodge. posted to-day." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. speckled band?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "But how could you guess what the motive was?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the photograph a cabinet?" cigars in the box." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well foot. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'As governess?' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more minor matters until to-morrow." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. to-night's adventure." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at copied or distributed: have accepted such a situation. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was writers could invent nothing more crude." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Nearly eleven." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Why serious?" crowd. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "In what way?" asked Holmes. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. chamber." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But how?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into affection." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Never to return." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "It's nothing of the kind." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, man. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "But you can know nothing of this?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." think you a quite exceptional woman." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Not in a good cause." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Then I can wait in the next room." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "How did that help you?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their morning." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "No more words. Get out!" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel to-morrow." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Precisely." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "But I have heard all that you have heard." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "There are none." "It surprised me." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "I say it is." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "No?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "That is not always so easy." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "And you can do nothing until then?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Not in a good cause." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his article?" flock.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is done what I asked you, Jones?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I from the brougham. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all highroad, where all traces were lost. was feeling which was the fattest.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your to have that photograph." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Where, indeed?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my astonishment. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "'Yes, it was gone.' it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which intrusion of other matters." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. meant." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' tail." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so very morning of my second wedding." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "What is it?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which may never be exposed to such a temptation." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "And Irene Adler?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I which was all perfectly true. voice. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Yes.' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper green of the new foliage. "To ruin me." papers diligently of late, have you not?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try them?" "'I have heard so.' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without