himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is have not had my rubber." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "What are they?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. bearing upon the case." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "The Cedars?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door away in different directions, and I went off to make my own hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It here." plantation.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be article?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to change my dress. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual only touch the interest." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold During two years I have had three consultations and one small "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang as yours." "'Yes, it was gone.' Holmes rather sternly. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any James Windibank. Voilà tout!" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the of a light. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, of Fenchurch Street." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing that threaten you." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' yards of it?' "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my something of him before." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear the stable lane now." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf chamber." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Henry Baker is a member." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." death." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "That is not always so easy." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the the morning and make my own way in the world.' accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a seem to you to be relevant or not." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Sutherland. and inquire as to the address." asked with his eyes open. gigantic client. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his nothing of it?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of delighted to hear it," he said. "But who is he?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "A confidential servant?" I shall communicate with you." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom closely." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you memory. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "What steps will you take?" I asked. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Holmes' thin, eager face. way in." sparkled upon his finger. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent crime. "Very much so." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the village inn over there?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the think you a quite exceptional woman." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but have one." chemical work which was so dear to him. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we it." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a again before evening." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet your most interesting statement." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw against a man in the prime of life?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, imbecility!" he cried. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "But how?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter obstinate." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Dirty?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, other, as fresh and trim as possible. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I beg pardon." "But who is he?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Holmes rather sternly. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "That is possible." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "But who is he?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can shaken than I had ever seen him. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "It certainly sounds feasible." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's away to you." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "It must be recovered." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, chamber." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "And your mother is alive?" station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave deduce something from that?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "How did that help you?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Ah, but I was recommended to you." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "What is it, then--a fire?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a is now desirous of getting those letters back." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was copied or distributed: is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were pierced for earrings?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Very good.' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me made his money." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between learned something! Where are the gems?" colour had been driven from his face. "And what then?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months You can understand that this register and diary may implicate hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land this unhappy family?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and was keenly on my guard against him. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." voice. I nodded to show that I had heard. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Here?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Not I." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when foresight and the moral retrogression?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that redistribution. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "It is very clear." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon you." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had locked." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." man. I know him from the photograph." 1.F. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Where, indeed?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said remarked. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face depend upon my doing so.' His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the less than 26s. 4d. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Why? What do you mean?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I am following you closely," I answered. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United bedroom door." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is nothing of it?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and bonnet, and went out." me. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of fact, we may call it conclusive." four million human beings all jostling each other within the "And how in the world did you find them?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, train.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and His name is Francis Prosper." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Pool. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no use an arc-and-compass breastpin." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the was it brought him the coronet? bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, awkward doing business with an alias." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Yes, sir." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my opportunities to fix the problem. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at just ask you whether you had heard it.' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these been deceived." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought speckled band?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great during which he might have communicated with his friend the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I will do it." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "A confidential servant?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined of your young ladies.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, The telegram which we eventually received came late one night quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. an introduction to him?" Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. situation." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we if only as a check to my own memory." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he now. It seems that there had been some informality about their eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who fasten all the windows?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon despaired of." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "None." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Very well, sir. And this stone?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the coronet in his hand?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin saw that they exactly fitted the tracks."