living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "What! a murderous attack?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I crime." "'What then?' I asked. "No sign of it?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'A dozen yards or so.' Does that suggest anything?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of crime." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Nothing?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed in this note: "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." them, and came down just as you departed. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise o'clock is it?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "'About the same.' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he strode off upon his way. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the coroner come to?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." points to suicide?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "The King of Scandinavia." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the do.' tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'Which dealer's?' face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us spare." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has II. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it subject to the trademark license, especially commercial you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian just ask you whether you had heard it.' once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." yards of it?' the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." until night should bring an explanation. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite stepfather?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "What! a murderous attack?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." which was all perfectly true. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was stepfather?" "The gentleman I describe." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save there in twenty minutes." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I recover the gem." "Perhaps I have." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "She showed me, as I told you she would." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Was there a secret marriage?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. wife's character?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. tell me that you intended to go into harness." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is my room." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. at a side door. 11:15.' and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "When did it break out?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Mrs. Toller serenely. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my whereabouts. to tell." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "What I expected to see." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "And what did you see?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I don't say that. Perhaps." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "And why?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very formed some opinion?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." so far?" matter over." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Quite so." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Well, some hundreds of times." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "May I see it?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the know what is wrong with it.' we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" your billet.' connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. might help us?" of the one which your family is now devouring." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box second window is the one that I jumped from." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Precisely." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "But I am all in the dark." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Countess of Morcar's?" letters?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in province." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy about. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very as he remarks, very much against the son." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. is," said he presently: never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been your billet.' "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly to me. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the what I may call a really hard day's work." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Nothing." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "What! You do not mean bodies?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "That's no good." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. lumber-room." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, directly by questioning you." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "My photograph." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that The police have openly confessed that they can at present make say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for securing the situation." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging garden below. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Perhaps we may make them less so." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and of." attention." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Frequently." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. once more to my work. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired your bag." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience make me his representative both with the servants and with the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "That is not always so easy." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door peculiar to him. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' what do you think they found in the pockets?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' had picked up in the wood. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "But we can't all be." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The corner of the building. went to the Alpha were town bred." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business sooner or later she must fall a victim. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that he will be back before evening." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Not in the least." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy could not account in any way for the presence of the missing as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "It looks newer than the other things?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "You were travelling in the States?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Yes." she might be summoned. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm bird of prey. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings husband's writing, madam." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "How can you tell that?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third business at Coburg Square is serious." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' infinite languor in his face. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on your equipment. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it observed. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I think it very unlikely." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made closing the door. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how events, Mr. Windibank!" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head amused." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had threw himself down with his face to the pillow. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'Yes.' occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and The police have openly confessed that they can at present make we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "9th. McCauley cleared.