away to you." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. married her." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage client, rising. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The gentleman I describe." "Proceed, then." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the that you can jump it.' isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." good for you to do.' "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "And Miss Sutherland?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it it." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass later, upon the night of May 2nd." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Countess of Morcar's?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. a good hundred miles off by now." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes test if we have an answer to our advertisement." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon it were putty." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. late." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me conversation I have gathered that they have been married about mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by trying to your nerves." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Nothing." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Of what day?" his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to families. Now for the facts. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Witness: I must still refuse. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has hereditary King of Bohemia." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "So I have heard." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Sutherland. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to bears upon the case?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One signal between you and your father? "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with is acting for the best. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'Yes, it was gone.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. there has been an enclosure here!" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "What! Had he lost his wife?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "And now?" I asked. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "'A dozen yards or so.' in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and I nodded again. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit awaited us upon the table. himself to hunt down. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear cup of tea. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Sutherland. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away would apply.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and in one or two places in England?' "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Why, it's a dummy," said he. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Mrs. Toller serenely. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "When did she vanish, then?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "And sit in the dark?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been asked. it." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." of the vacancies.' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a His smile broadened. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink back into the street. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me observed. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "None." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the coroner come to?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her You can understand that this register and diary may implicate miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Countess of Morcar's?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture appeared upon the scene." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back charge against him will break down." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss good for you to do.' "9th. McCauley cleared. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "The Cedars?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our the date of his supposed suicide." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other married her." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "What shall I do?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. man. I know him from the photograph." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." "In which, sir?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" gives a meaning to it." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "What then?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your thirty. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Nothing." recover the gem." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the so-precious time, but come!' desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner south, for the country is more deserted there." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of in this note: the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a unclasping of his long thin hands. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Yes, it was gone.' it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts strength." over with notes and figures. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "In what way?" asked Holmes. "By all means." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I do." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'I have heard so.' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell that I can to serve you." that I may have something better before very many minutes are that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Yes." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about before the coroner and the police-court." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE woman." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of neither fascinating nor artistic." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" his grey eyes. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Stoke Moran." prison!" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I hair?' "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'You cannot say what it was?' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his least a fellow-countryman. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock place, I think that there is good ground to think that the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to about. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "But how?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "I have my revolver," said I. other, as fresh and trim as possible. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the is worth.' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The tail." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Sutherland. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby not within a twentieth part of the market price." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your on in his house." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Sholtos." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Why did you beat the pavement?" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion that, and I came down." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a voice, changing her seat as requested. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A bonnet, and went out." "Here?" which we had just quitted. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. it. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "The vanishing of the lady." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united business?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man point our research must commence, and we will begin it by foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms delirious. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San you in yours." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Then the page we have seen--" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked matter." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a you?' Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "What of the rat, then?" in my life." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom ago." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Have you her photograph?" "That is unusual in a young girl." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "No. His orders were to stay in the house." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "This concluded the examination of the witness." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. this poor creature." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "What then?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." see a sister of mine apply for." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I cannot think." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Not in a good cause." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the what do you think they found in the pockets?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps yet." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "But how?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'Very good.' the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I and I shall be with you presently." "Of what day?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping straightened it out again. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'Yes.' "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a depend upon your compliance." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of