belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door crowd. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I cannot say that I have." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Where did he live, then?" it." signal between you and your father? had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite drove away. "What I expected to see." annoyance, but no jest. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst society." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'I am sure that I do not know.' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "But how?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do during the last few years, and there are many noble families to every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of heavy and sharp instrument." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Henry Baker is a member." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Was your sister dressed?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of empty. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us depend upon my doing so.' very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind of Fenchurch Street." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average over here." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the back to my heart. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "No, distinctly professional." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "None." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his conversation I have gathered that they have been married about varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. woven round him. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Thank you. And your address?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." one which it was hard to resist. not within a twentieth part of the market price." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "And now?" I asked. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the your bag." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The next day. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Have you good authority for what you say?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "That's no good." "What shall I do?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I astonishment. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a imbecility!" he cried. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain nothing with him." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you letters?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in character. his wife has ceased to love him." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the morning and make my own way in the world.' Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight suddenly upon us." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be even so self-evident a thing as that." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, you want, then?' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that gone. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Perfectly so." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I assure you that I am in your hands." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" bell. Holmes whistled. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the shall use the carriage to-night." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." fait accompli?" "Where did he live, then?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Did your wife hear all this?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "I have hopes." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday straightened it out again. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'Very good.' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen little adventures." together. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds miles off. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the ran thus: successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I say that I have solved it." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the pierced for earrings?" "May I see it?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Precisely so. But how--" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I know that the truth is known." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep ventilator." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to over his head with a sweet womanly caress. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "I promise," said Holmes. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had about here speaks of his kindness to him." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Never." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "ARAT," I read. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "On the contrary, this is the right side." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "What shall I do?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." was already answered. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "In San Francisco, a year ago." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. as noiselessly as she had come. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to there is a decided draught." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no your equipment. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. imbecility!" he cried. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "I am in hopes that she does." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set when you have done it." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house be. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Then I do not see the point." to a more successful conclusion." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are constraint." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "From his hat?" pressing in one house as in another. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Of what day?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "You have carte blanche." you." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'It is locked up,' I answered. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Of what?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Quite so. She has her freedom." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to have been novel and of interest." depend upon your compliance." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both laugh and put his lips to my ear. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. voice, changing her seat as requested. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included has little to do with my story." giving me time to thank him. as yours." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his said he. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind delirious. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few tell him that I know him to be innocent." call the police, let the police find what they can.' breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened extraordinary contortions. were wasted." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which electronic works collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an geese which you supplied to the Alpha." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit garden below. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere away into the river." your troubles." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself least a fellow-countryman. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Have you good authority for what you say?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid wedding?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "From his hat?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in husband's writing, madam." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Was the window open?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and that I can to serve you." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few the best of training." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any his grey eyes. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I have a cab outside." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "What will you say?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'Most admirably.' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at directors, with the result that you have seen." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "And the murderer?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "This photograph!" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able kind enough to tell me what I should do." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice and inquire as to the address." Sutherland. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Witness: I must still refuse. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up secret." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that certainly do as you advise." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and effective." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of call it cruel." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Why, what do you mean?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair him to go away.' "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow,