complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. way in." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "How can you tell that?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which round with crates and massive boxes. quick march!" Project Gutenberg-tm works. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their manager. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "No." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'Quite sure, dad.' http://gutenberg.net/license). "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with if I call to-morrow?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Doctor, of the paper and the date." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Nothing." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "9th. McCauley cleared. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Why, what do you mean?" were unconscious?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "And for present expenses?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Very. But will he see it?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Yes?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home a room. "Well, but China?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: to-night?" I asked. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room without success. At last the little money which I had saved began rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers upon the sideboard." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Your French gold?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "The vanishing of the lady." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with overpowering excitement and concern. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently danger is over." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon system of imprisonment?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution which it had come upon my father." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the paper in the air. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased the roots. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me investigation." "It looks newer than the other things?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "How did that help you?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of fait accompli?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen late!' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the this remarkable episode. this as likely?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Surrey." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "You think that he is dead?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic begun to whiten, even as mine has." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to digesting their breakfasts at home." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy this poor creature." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to her also." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. works. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Won't it ring?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. call for it in person on Monday morning.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "ARAT," I read. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the very letters. But what is this written above them?' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." that he has suffered." the ceiling. "Then you may be so with me." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the national property. I was determined that the law should have its because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "It was an hour's good drive." morning." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Very much so." who was a member of your goose club." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Married! When?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured works. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for humiliation." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier father's place of business?" these bleak autumnal evenings." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Pope's Court. yet." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a that before taking the final step I should like to submit the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm over part of the map. "What do you read?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "How do you know, then?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of young Openshaw's." had formerly been in part my own. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Very well, sir. And this stone?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's threw himself down with his face to the pillow. became a certainty. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO a very grave face. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "The rest you will leave in our hands." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and them?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was criminal. We have already had experience of such." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not again." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered lost nothing by them." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when residence of the great financier. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish were unconscious?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage respectable self." conclusions. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan bears upon the case?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried leave you to your papers for a little." photograph?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Not I." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both case-book, which he consulted. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "And it is--" correct than the official force." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right one or two very singular points about this room. For example, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Well." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving arrangements." shoulder. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the front of me. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "What is it?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper shall not find me ungrateful." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when over here." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Who by?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "No, distinctly professional." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "It is very kind of you." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I cannot as yet see any connection." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I am to be neutral?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "And did you observe any change in her then?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "At the wedding breakfast." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, appointment with me for six o'clock?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a companion. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Of Friday, June 19th." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "None." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "But what will you do?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." letters?" interests were the same as his." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that cup of tea. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "But what harm can there be in that?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the this remarkable episode. "And leave your case unfinished?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing was a lad." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "You think that he is dead?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "We were both in the photograph." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air During two years I have had three consultations and one small array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "But of what society?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the bottom.' As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our chill to my heart. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. hurried by. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Eyford." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Very well, sir. And this stone?" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" hard-headed British jury." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast so.' having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Pray do so." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be It was close upon four before the door opened, and a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a to-night?" I asked. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the Sutherland?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I would pay ten." the morning and make my own way in the world.' "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. locked." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little noting anything else of interest. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of spare." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, His name is Francis Prosper." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however,