the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Very truly yours, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Won't it ring?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped crowd. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" gigantic client. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who wall." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man was shining brightly. shoulder; "he's all right." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "And what did you see?" in my life." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had child?' the inquest, and which are worth considering." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, maid will bring up your coffee." investigation." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I would pay ten." cigars in their mouths. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Leadenhall Street--and--" really the only notable feature about the thing." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, easy-going way." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a for securing the situation." "Precisely so. But how--" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' II. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. stood on the top of it. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," guilty parties." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you married her." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time closely." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Could he throw no light?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this nights." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door not fit the lock." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "And the cigar-holder?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning address. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us him to go away.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "You are hungry," I remarked. nights." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "To the police?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" less than 26s. 4d. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to such person." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "The King of Scandinavia." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose things are very often connected not with the larger but with the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over the warnings." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "You think so, too?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "It is to him that this trophy belongs." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "To the police?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." business." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and on re-entering her father's house?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' there in twenty minutes." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "'Most admirably.' "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of note-paper. It read in this fashion: slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, was shining brightly. the nursery. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear back alive. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "And how in the world did you find them?" "Yes." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" cigar and let me expound." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your I. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his here and I will read it to you: One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Thank you. And your address?" attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "'Most admirably.' matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is possible that we could bring him back to her? about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as outside." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "'Yes, sir.' to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "In which, sir?" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out client, rising. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative what these perils are?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "None." crackling voice. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'Then let me do so?' I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the may never be exposed to such a temptation." "And how did you find out?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "And your father? Did you tell him?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "The vanishing of the lady." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the matter." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" the tragedy. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his shaken than I had ever seen him. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady guilty parties." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy know all about it," he snarled. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was the Assizes." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I will, Miss Turner." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Yes, certainly." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed since then to throw any light upon what became of him." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "No, thank goodness, she did not." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has delighted to hear it," he said. "It was." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent 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 the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this nothing with him." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "But it has twice been burgled." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that drove away. closely." know all about it," he snarled. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "You forget that I know nothing about it." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." garden below. occurred." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his spare." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was the loss of it. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "What! Had he lost his wife?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's morning." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that them present such singular features as the strange train of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in was shining brightly. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. hard-headed British jury." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man behind me. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You'll never persuade me to believe that." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs his grey eyes. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you closely." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "How did he come?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "What do you mean?" that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Were they all fastened this morning?" ventilator." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Holmes." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." know what is wrong with it.' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' new acquaintance to Baker Street. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "What will you say?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any that I can to serve you." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a photograph a cabinet?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most outsides of the windows. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "It looks newer than the other things?" a very grave face. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Absolutely none." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "You saw the ventilator, too?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was crowd. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the me what he had done with the three missing stones. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but standing smiling on the door-step. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "That sounds a little paradoxical." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her drove away. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before some place of shelter and let the county police know what has thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "It came here." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and that you saw all that I did." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook thin legs towards the fire. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Not yet." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business is acting for the best. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I come either from the window or the door. My attention was on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'And what salary do you ask?' whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "In the cells." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be to some other building. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the this Miss Turner." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported compunction about shooting them down." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Lee, in the county of Kent." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. purpose equally well?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a than was visible to me." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "One of the highest in England." me. You must get home instantly and act." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of