say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "'As governess?' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised enter Dr. Roylott's room." "We must have a cab." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' points to suicide?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Ample." Surrey." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "'I am sure that I do not know.' in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint note?" "I should like to see him very much." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs upon the shelf for the interim." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "We were both in the photograph." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "But how could you guess what the motive was?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to comes from the middle window." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I cannot tell." the matter?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Farm upon the left." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "One of his hands." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There are, I think, all that we need." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "My dear Holmes!" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six spare." this unhappy family?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Get out!" said he. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Not in the least." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, fishes. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "But what is it you wish?" me have 200 pounds?' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'Where to?' "Yes, I have one waiting." "Yes, only one." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Where is it, then?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'How far from the body?' there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and laid it on the table. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must papers diligently of late, have you not?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled back into the street. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "By all means." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Dr. Becher's." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "What! You do not mean bodies?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock you in your example." your troubles." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Where does the thing come from?' before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which here." "But how?" "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his which our visitor detailed to us. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, the stones. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but away to you." "It surprised me." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this touch that coronet?' room. my former friend and companion. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very note?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "You have the photograph?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "How are you getting on?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not acquaintance?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "But you can know nothing of this?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day quick march!" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "But you can know nothing of this?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Where does the thing come from?' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag point in the dark hollow of his hand. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his might help us?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped electronic works engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Only as much as we can deduce." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two relief. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I should like to see him very much." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do him and tried to hold him back. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "But he might be a bachelor." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said note?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "'How far from the body?' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read Young McCarthy must be got off, however." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "And Irene Adler?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" must be when I saw the door open.' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four good for you to do.' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah up this clue while it is still hot." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the dangers which encompass me." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in place no limit on the sum I may draw." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this papers on the sundial.'" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both arrested. You then--" in a friendly supper." case-book, which he consulted. neither fascinating nor artistic." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I cannot imagine." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "But how will you look?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "But how?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of http://www.gutenberg.net friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Who was the criminal, then?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the best of training." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "A client, then?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had have accepted such a situation. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I cannot think." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in way in everything. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. you came in." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, way in." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those occupations.' arrested. You then--" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from I leave." said I. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "'Never,' said I. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "And you don't know his address?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "A greater distance to travel." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come situation." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. his huge brown hands. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and least a most suspicious remark." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said way in everything. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear could not have written that. It is the German who is so as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as wedding?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at newspaper selections." criminal. We have already had experience of such." horse could go." cheerful." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free me, and I could not think that his explanation of the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported attention." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That an introduction to him?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small sufficient punishment." nonsense.' to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I it. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. chamber." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the King without delay." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a placed his cuttings. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Yes, at the mines." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the indiscretion." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "I cannot tell." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to me. You must get home instantly and act." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is writers could invent nothing more crude." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." enough to aid us in our search." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "A confidential servant?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a new acquaintance to Baker Street. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Here?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? fear." any little problem which you may submit to me." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried pound a week." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Pray let us have it, for all that." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "How often?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford was a lad." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Nothing?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." tell me that you intended to go into harness." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new there is a decided draught." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers details." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the as noiselessly as she had come. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. of receipt of the work. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is on re-entering her father's house?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what them, and came down just as you departed. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "And now?" I asked. "BALLARAT." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the of them has the shutters up.' call the police, let the police find what they can.' with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "My dear Holmes!" trifles." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and laid it on the table. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "My last client of the sort was a king." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," are, and they are waiting for us." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The row." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. our word." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which fattened it expressly for you.' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Proceed, then." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed