"Yes, they were peculiar boots." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "And how?" one which it was hard to resist. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at conversation I have gathered that they have been married about The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Nothing?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the business." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain indeed which he could not unravel. made his money." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and wedding?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Yes." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Young McCarthy must be got off, however." read it out to me." once more for Briony Lodge. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if dramatic, in fact." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For should be taken.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me your bag." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" one's self under obligations.' vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless walking." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled out." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped back to my heart. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was newspaper selections." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Yes, from Horsham." "My photograph." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'About the same.' upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY strong reason behind." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of October 9, 1890. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were with frightened eyes at his accuser. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full matter." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "What shall I do?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "You are hungry," I remarked. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Dark enough and sinister enough." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after himself in a perplexing position. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is highly," said Holmes. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the hour?' was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day just ask you whether you had heard it.' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have so.' the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the ceiling. "Will you bet, then?" "Pray do so." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the observed. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental cigars in their mouths. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "By train from Waterloo." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "What office?" "One of the highest in England." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum think you a quite exceptional woman." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Nothing." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "No bad?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable unclasping of his long thin hands. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' nonsense.' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at rose-bushes. there when the Rucastles went away." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I to where he stood hid behind the curtain. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Get out!" said he. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This have one." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in friends, not even his own brother. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief quickly through a disagreeable task. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "It is solved." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Yes, it was twisted." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his families. Now for the facts. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. could gather together that I was able to avert another public shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "What! You do not mean bodies?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Witness: I must still refuse. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I there in twenty minutes." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person gigantic client. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "And how?" towards the blaze. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, that he has suffered." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a strength of mind to control. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and have this put in the evening papers." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. attention." Holmes. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Yes." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are to me. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived I approached. my little problems." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I have hopes." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that ventilator." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, think that any burglar could have done. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a of the way of danger. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg photograph?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Not yet." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Stoke Moran." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, a little more before I quite committed myself. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Has he come with you to-night?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Was he the only applicant?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' kindly on the shoulder. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing had picked up in the wood. "Entirely." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman little adventures." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a voice, changing her seat as requested. "'A dozen yards or so.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." to tackle the facts." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw point in the dark hollow of his hand. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and have this put in the evening papers." this unhappy family?" annoyance, but no jest. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, true." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain one's self under obligations.' sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. This is what he says: cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Pool. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Did you observe the colour?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the date of his supposed suicide." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "And the cigar-holder?" his knees, staring into the fire. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "We must have a cab." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of true." "BALLARAT." very old mansion. important." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Yes, all." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "And I." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque hour." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then following enigmatical notices: word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the suddenly upon us." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that presented more singular features than that which was associated of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may once more for Briony Lodge. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "To the police?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Yes." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it think you a quite exceptional woman." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and absorbing." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of me have 200 pounds?' eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "'Never,' said I. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "That is easily got." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the child." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "I will do it." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Do you know him?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony and it need not interfere very much with one's other lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "No." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Yes, certainly." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Where did you address your letters, then?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. written. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' once more for Briony Lodge. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to me upon any point which I do not make clear." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Nothing?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I would give my fortune to have them back." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Very murderous indeed." writing, and yet I know it well." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his if she died from some sudden fright." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There come either from the window or the door. My attention was came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by business." kindly on the shoulder. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "And what did you learn from him?" "Was she in good spirits?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now someone who had been in Australia." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he