case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would with the outside air!" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of note?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and quick march!" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "My own seal." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "'It is locked up,' I answered. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of to that open window." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the wedding?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "But he might be a bachelor." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips business?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." stalked out of the room. "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I see many objections to any such theory." "On your arm?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' that he has suffered." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "It may not come to that," said Holmes. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Was she in good spirits?" strong reason behind." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "He might." his forehead." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices standing smiling on the door-step. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods definite end. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Look there!" said he. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Why, what do you mean?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "It was an hour's good drive." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "'You cannot say what it was?' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we foresight and the moral retrogression?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "'About the same.' thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began people in all walks of life. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should occupations.' "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. were new raised from a basin. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, hour?' "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so is a common subject for conversation. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Dr. Becher's." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Clair, of Lee." I shall communicate with you." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "BALLARAT." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we wife's character?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." ordinary clothes on?" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of business came to an end." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of an introduction to him?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought gone. "No good news?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you you in yours." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I fear not." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back what is your own theory as to what took place?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Cross for the Continent." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "And I to find an enemy." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" forbidden door. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I would give my fortune to have them back." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons new duties?' princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "We were both in the photograph." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in own family. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my so.' "No legal papers or certificates?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Absolutely none." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds neither fascinating nor artistic." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, to tackle the facts." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "And now?" I asked. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "How did he come?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. himself to hunt down. are, and they are waiting for us." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet tear off another piece?' neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One purpose of examination. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would of a light. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Well, some hundreds of times." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "And help." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you you in your example." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Entirely." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was what is your own theory as to what took place?" "That's no good." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the date of his supposed suicide." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check and capable of preserving a secret.' Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than and a shock of very red hair. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Certainly." her also." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "But what is it you wish?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my unkempt, staring out at me. forbidden door. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to posted to-day." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Certainly." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': charge against him will break down." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. said I. generous with you in money matters.' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I am in hopes that she does." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm bachelor.' my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business one which it was hard to resist. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to feature." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of individual and becomes the badge of a society." "I say it is." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method felt?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'And the work?' to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Yes." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "At what time?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I know where it is." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the always that they were such commands as a lady might with "But she could not love him." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Nothing." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the shall use the carriage to-night." Pope's Court. strode off upon his way. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough showing my impatience. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a his face which made him a very different person to the round, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country careless servant girl?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts remarked. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie is a common subject for conversation. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should a little more before I quite committed myself. "It certainly sounds feasible." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." call you and give you the chance." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to locked. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "No, I had a dozen." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a one's self under obligations.' sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." writer." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Where, then, is my wife?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us I have it here in my museum." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. License. You must require such a user to return or fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, you?' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished any little problem which you may submit to me." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in business matters.' broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Yes." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Farm upon the left." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "No." conduct the inquiry." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "He said too much." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "What then?" carried out of court." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE question," said Holmes, smiling. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with do.' into her hand at the door and which lured her within their which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the families. Now for the facts. your co-operation." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got house for five minutes.' from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." me." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Get out!" said he. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up when you have done it." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to could go. "Where, then, is my wife?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the stalked out of the room. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, companion imperturbably. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. writers could invent nothing more crude." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King said Mr. Holder. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Holmes' thin, eager face. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and