photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. meanly of me." way: "And who is her maid?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are vague figure huddled up in the darkness. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in down from London to inquire more deeply into it." place no limit on the sum I may draw." "'Ample.' Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his upon the sideboard." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him instincts rose up against that laugh. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "My dear Holmes!" a monotonous occupation." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the come either from the window or the door. My attention was police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Yes." stood on the top of it. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom business?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and upon a handsome competence. some water from a caraffe. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem wedding?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," highroad, where all traces were lost. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" answered with a sidelong glance. "My last client of the sort was a king." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'About the same.' there was no need for father to know." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. and the colonel ushered me in. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every chemical work which was so dear to him. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Leave Paddington by the 11:15." gone before you can get him to hospital." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Only as much as we can deduce." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "By no means." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and that he would see to anything that turned up. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up DAMAGE. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." thirty. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time forecastle of an emigrant ship. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 developed." more terrible than the truth. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "But the mystery?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: ago." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Street. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking keep the flames under. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." whether it answered to the description of any of their But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his chance at all." "That is easily got." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, only touch the interest." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of matters immensely." for the market.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to returned to France?" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of man. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should burst into a hearty fit of laughter. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "You horrify me!" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I should wish to." know what is wrong with it.' "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he relief. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. your sleep?' "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "You did not overhear what they said?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the salesman. Munro.' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I see many objections to any such theory." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" one of the states of the Union." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense is entirely a question of barometric pressure." secret." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows to Leatherhead. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded been." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the this as likely?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of train.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. to take care of herself." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "The rest you will leave in our hands." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I read it out to me." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that that there was nothing in it, after all." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which one's self under obligations.' Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Munro.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "The Cedars?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have was a perfect sample of the class. "But what is it you wish?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do at once, for I have only half an hour." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if joking. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "It goes to the housekeeper's room." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of than to us. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From photograph a cabinet?" was already answered. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in and effective." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I you give your casting vote to?" you understand?" front of me. there when the Rucastles went away." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "A thing like a cleaver," said he. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely 'please.'" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding sound at heart." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is I held the little printed slip to the light. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'Never.' "Pray do so." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the when your master had gone out." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, would apply.' "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "None." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the ourselves in the office." "Well, but China?" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, matter over." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present official police." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause morning." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "I will do it." for securing the situation." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to his eyes and forehead. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman John Swain, of St. Augustine. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever business." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He of your young ladies.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now over part of the map. "What do you read?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "By no means." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and put his glass in his pocket. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much of campaign. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Really! You surprise me." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided young Openshaw's." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "But who is he?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United sake, don't!" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too indiscretion." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "An enemy?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "If I can be of use." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they vague figure huddled up in the darkness. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I have come for advice." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Precisely." carried out of court." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more passage and a tap at the door. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Yes." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "When did she vanish, then?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. despaired of." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he forecastle of an emigrant ship. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "In answer to an advertisement." "But how?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I chemical work which was so dear to him. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by joking. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "She told me to ask you." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you written, and locked the door of the office after me. if I call to-morrow?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, over part of the map. "What do you read?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I not within a twentieth part of the market price." "What I expected to see." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but must be when I saw the door open.' God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, meanly of me." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute you came in." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Pray continue your narrative." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his would apply.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Imitated." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of recover the gem." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or particular state visit http://pglaf.org front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden strode off upon his way. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old closing the door. "He disappeared so suddenly." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his him nearly every evening." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of arms and began to sob in a high treble key. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no own family. be.' brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "How can you tell that?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after never will be, entirely cleared up. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I see many objections to any such theory." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for there was no need for father to know." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." it." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "On Monday."