"No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during skylight. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification him!" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the any more." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Then, how do you know?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of again." "Just look it up, then." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" matter." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' again before evening." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been like gravel from a pit.' own family. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached generous with you in money matters.' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Perhaps we may make them less so." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said my little problems." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did tear off another piece?' "And your father? Did you tell him?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; distinguish the words: "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you views." to have that photograph." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you there were one or two details which were new to me. But the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless despair." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to arms and began to sob in a high treble key. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little certainly not very gracious." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Won't it ring?" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Yes, at the mines." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "And sit in the dark?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "His face fell immediately. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had extraordinary contortions. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the address that was given us in the advertisement. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "It is very kind of you." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the wedding?" "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get one which it was hard to resist. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep you give your casting vote to?" night.' said he. "It's nothing of the kind." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Pray tell us what has happened to you." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "What, then?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how prove to be little relation between the different incidents of police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from memory. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Deserted you?" "I came to find a friend." rooms." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my in the dead of the night?' himself to hunt down. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. once more. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the night.' said he. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "And you thought he was pulled back?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Holmes' thin, eager face. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "What then?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was be.' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the appeal." I am not easy in my mind about them." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are there were one or two details which were new to me. But the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man fashion which was peculiar to him. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," weary and pale-looking. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, hour." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "It is very clear." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." posted to-day." purpose equally well?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to thin legs towards the fire. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his my little problems." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me that you can jump it.' bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If second." about here speaks of his kindness to him." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the read it out to me." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'Ten to two.' He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair sit on the left-hand side of the driver." business." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "No, I had a dozen." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began fear." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "That is possible." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in you give your casting vote to?" him. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." it." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "How did that help you?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our ventilator." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "'Most admirably.' thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are so.' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, noble correspondent could be. "Nothing?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "On the contrary, this is the right side." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "I don't say that. Perhaps." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not along the entire front of the house, with three long windows returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the little opening for the ventilator is." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'Very good.' back to my heart. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the a good hundred miles off by now." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major what I may call a really hard day's work." "The landlord of the Alpha." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever be there in time for your coming." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us money should be paid at once.' such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. delirious. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" strength." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "No more words. Get out!" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the dangers which encompass me." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Project Gutenberg-tm works. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. again before evening." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From such attractions and accomplishments?' been shamefully used." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, annoyance, but no jest. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' was a lad." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At this poor creature." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest upon the white wrist. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the within hail.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom events, Mr. Windibank!" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled I shall continue with my miserable story. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him points to suicide?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Can I be of assistance?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We him to be an active member of the medical profession." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, them?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and is four-and-twenty." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb late!' "Yes." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Here?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "No, my brougham is waiting." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I like that before?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and looked back. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took ago." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Texas, I think." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "And how did you verify them?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple four million human beings all jostling each other within the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been of Mr. Rucastle's." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying meant it for the best. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear from the brougham. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he companion imperturbably. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "'How far from the body?' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she