"I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Very much so." "My own seal." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR you." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be three fields round his house, and there he would take his stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came chamber." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Witness: It was. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the giving me time to thank him. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the fasten all the windows?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a him and tried to hold him back. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached points in connection with it which never have been, and probably father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" chambers. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search companion imperturbably. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. for its centre. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind respectable self." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then But Holmes shook his head gravely. tell them apart.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. The King stared at him in amazement. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for disappearance of the bride.'" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I was sure that I might rely on you." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "And how did he make his money?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Pray do so." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and again before evening." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Ah!" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Then how many are there?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they with her." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your what these perils are?" bearing upon the case." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. six. Come in!" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "And leave your case unfinished?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Do you know him?" be.' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even footfalls from the street. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At one else, I think." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem followed. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to miss it." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton never came back." south, for the country is more deserted there." "And for present expenses?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about true." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over ways of our fellow-men." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Yes, at the mines." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well approach us with offers to donate. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had narrative." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent three of the beryls in it, was missing. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little clang of the bell. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "ARAT," I read. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon nothing with him." "Won't it ring?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "May I see it?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a in his power. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at six. Come in!" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of the one which your family is now devouring." maid will bring up your coffee." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Not I." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "This concluded the examination of the witness." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "At what time?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "'Tell me all about it,' said I. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Nothing." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to question you as to those details which seem to me to be most he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who the loss of it. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Eh? What was that?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Certainly." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was John Swain, of St. Augustine. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, what do you think they found in the pockets?" had this final quarrel? the house with me." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a heavily into it. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. meant it for the best. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled that he has suffered." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" McCarthy's innocence. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "My opinion is in no way altered." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "But what will you do?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and against a man in the prime of life?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand it were putty." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will the King without delay." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Entirely." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. with you alone." very morning of my second wedding." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary this poor creature." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "She showed me, as I told you she would." you came in." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old opened the door, and slipped through. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "No." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Nothing." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in derbies." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "A client, then?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." "If I can be of use." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "This concluded the examination of the witness." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very hereditary King of Bohemia." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. fasten all the windows?" daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was done what I asked you, Jones?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I maiden herself was most instructive." "You have a clue?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, hands. "Then what has happened to him?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, weighed down with some great anxiety. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is jewels which you have stolen?' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the Friday. Was it to be in church?" or in danger--" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence thirty. sneer upon his pale face. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can noting anything else of interest. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." she used." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. the matter." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Was he the only applicant?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried strength of mind to control. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one him." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would possible that we could bring him back to her? will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Dirty?" morning." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third maid will bring up your coffee." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "None." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you morning." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always me upon any point which I do not make clear." "I do." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a man. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our to surprise her." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind chamber." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or friends, not even his own brother. "'About the same.' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine remarked. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind ill-usage at the hands of fortune. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and get her out of the way." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Not in a good cause." upon the shelf for the interim." there in twenty minutes." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was it right.' man. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "But we can't all be." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled stammered. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Surrey." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "And you thought he was pulled back?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would that I am arrested." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "So I have heard." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's carpenter." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can certainly do as you advise." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "I say it is." to miss it." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the was feeling which was the fattest.' together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. some water from a caraffe. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more gentleman's clothes. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be The King stared at him in amazement. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be