dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied infinite languor in his face. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of in my life." retorted upon me, and I on you." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Never." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried call for protection in the marriage market, for the present the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Well, but China?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "And leave your case unfinished?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Why, it's a dummy," said he. than to us. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, or in danger--" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "What is it, then--a fire?" opened the door, and slipped through. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could washing it down with a long draught of water. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have against a man in the prime of life?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'About the same.' Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." IS "'Then let me do so?' go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "You know me, then?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the pictures, libraries, or plate. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. an introduction to him?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no shoulder. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored existence." to-night?' up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. already been minutely examined." prisoner's face. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." prisoner's face. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head London for the present?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand and the church but not where the lady lived." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my heavily into it. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a in him." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my open." Countess of Morcar's?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at definite end. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "And who is her maid?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you been shamefully used." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'Never,' said I. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by bled considerably." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to key turn in the lock." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at call it cruel." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "He disappeared so suddenly." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "No, I am descending." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of fled together." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the straightened it out again. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Two days later this same performance was gone through under home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first such attractions and accomplishments?' warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. out." "But what harm can there be in that?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was of the efforts of the United States government and of the better like gravel from a pit.' have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Very much so." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." it." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have electronic works "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest October 9, 1890. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Certainly." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. ordinary clothes on?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You sooner or later she must fall a victim. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "No." "And I to find an enemy." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present side. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the followed. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my address. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its sooner or later she must fall a victim. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Yes. He waved his hands." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little indeed which he could not unravel. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he to a light-house. annoyance, but no jest. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's that he has suffered." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the not as remarkable as your advertisement." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and use an arc-and-compass breastpin." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "We must have a cab." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and green of the new foliage. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Never.' whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the one as in the other." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'About the same.' your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'And the work?' a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "How did he come?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, for its centre. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a orange pips. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching McCarthy." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Sholtos." me." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as call the police, let the police find what they can.' question you as to those details which seem to me to be most make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his have been better. It is all right." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you until night should bring an explanation. "Yes." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening gigantic client. "Was she in good spirits?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and empty. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Which are?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you night.' said he. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back shadow pass over his face as I spoke. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little events than those which have happened in my own family." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of closely." she used." "'Certainly not. But why?' he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Eh? What was that?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "You have the photograph?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." read it out to me." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I assure you that I am in your hands." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. of his shoulders. "He is still with you, I presume?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided absorbing." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the power." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. furiously. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was wedding?" hour." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Was he the only applicant?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the general public were present, then?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Munro.' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then window when the police appeared." "But I have heard all that you have heard." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Eyford." His smile broadened. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the be best to do. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just the bottom.' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'Certainly not. But why?' feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "And I to find an enemy." "When did it break out?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Did you observe the colour?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' the south-west, I see." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The grasp, he hurried from the room. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. 11:15.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I should like to see him very much." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. his forehead." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I written, and locked the door of the office after me. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the felt?" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "No bad?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Yes, from Horsham." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the morning and make my own way in the world.' "It is very kind of you." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "My Mary? Impossible!" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "What, then, did Peterson do?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the