"I have come for advice." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the hereditary King of Bohemia." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I which it had come upon my father." there." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I have seen the police." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. congenial hunt. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present visitors." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," bearing upon the case." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way little adventures." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an as this. Pray let me have the details." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free three fields round his house, and there he would take his an introduction to him?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Ah!" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the of your young ladies.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the very morning of the wedding." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "And now?" I asked. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Yes." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in asked. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Yes, but only for you and me." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the followed. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Why did you beat the pavement?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door bled considerably." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it woven round him. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "What shall I do?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy ourselves in the office." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Entirely." "Frequently." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the official police." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Yes." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "I see no marks." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you neither fascinating nor artistic." Mary, has deserted me." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your presented more singular features than that which was associated One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "It surprised me." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: investigation." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. tell him that I know him to be innocent." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would now. It seems that there had been some informality about their is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his to take care of herself." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the bottom.' money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just second." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "That is it on the dressing-table." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." as this. Pray let me have the details." without a word or a look. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, entirely lost his self-respect." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, crime. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in were wasted." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, despaired of." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known lips." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the miles off. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes of." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I am not easy in my mind about them." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "But not more so than I to find you." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom obstinate." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, chair. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and your relations to her." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you peculiar to him. hand, madam?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this you." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I here." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "That you are never beaten." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I should wish to." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my prisoner's face. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "To the police?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, address. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Yes, there are nearly always some there." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side introspective fashion. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Entirely." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. good for you to do.' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "At half-wages, in fact." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "You horrify me." "My own seal." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Yes, he did." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "You have it, sir, just as it happened." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most appeal." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Mary, has deserted me." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Do you go out much in society?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. what these perils are?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other photograph?" "But his left-handedness." through." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "That is it on the dressing-table." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to tightly behind him. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could at home. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his forehead. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone important." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "I was afraid that you were engaged." as this. Pray let me have the details." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at touch that coronet?' with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed heavily into it. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of which it had come upon my father." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous client, rising. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Quite so." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "A confidential servant?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he fait accompli?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; is," said he presently: is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own at my remark. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "No, distinctly professional." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' mysterious end." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." of your young ladies.' of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt of." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are notes," he said. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up horse could go." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "No, finished." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "But the mystery?" feature." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Seven!" I answered. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an fuss that is made over them." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "On your arm?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "And on what day did he meet his death?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search in your London, you will know that the office of the company is pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own emerged. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "You have but to name it." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "But how did you gain them?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put were unconscious?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian have not had my rubber." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, awkward doing business with an alias." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have there." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being footfalls from the street. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Of Friday, June 19th." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Very murderous indeed." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are his cane at the bell-pull. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out strong reason behind." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." that you can jump it.' time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to