locked." to a light-house. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass it." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand round with crates and massive boxes. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not appointment with me for six o'clock?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "No." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the away into the river." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "BALLARAT." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Witness: It was. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the you for a few hours?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been that before taking the final step I should like to submit the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply it right.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Pope's Court, Fleet Street." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "I cannot as yet see any connection." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." in this way: few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." it with his own hands." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known stalked out of the room. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Yesterday." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "The gentleman I describe." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Always." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'You cannot say what it was?' learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," papers must be those that are destroyed.' "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "The King of Scandinavia." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a joking. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do laugh and put his lips to my ear. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client in him." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. whereabouts. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Pool. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence up this clue while it is still hot." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call sofa. This way, please!" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Eh? What was that?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our there were one or two details which were new to me. But the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the night.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten seen the man in the road." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the how narrow had been my escape. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Of what?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "You don't mind breaking the law?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There bachelor.' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." you in your example." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "And the murderer?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "From his hat?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, out." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that thirty. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" electronic works matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was What do you deduce from it?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your amused." "No sign of it?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." pound a week." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the coroner's jury." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "What! a murderous attack?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'Most admirably.' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, locked. Doctor, of the paper and the date." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a without a word or a look. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "How did you deduce the select?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'A dozen yards or so.' heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out way in." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To John Swain, of St. Augustine. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Now, then, what's the last entry?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "VIOLET HUNTER." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, when your master had gone out." "That is possible." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" delirious. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as assist you in forming an opinion." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But how did you gain them?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "And on what day did he meet his death?" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me assist you in forming an opinion." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." man. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to in a very precise fashion." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "You have the photograph?" and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "No sign of it?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the danger is over." these bleak autumnal evenings." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. question. arrangements." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest away into the river." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "What is it, then--a fire?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying desk. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the some water from a caraffe. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at arrested. You then--" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole your own bird, so if you wish--" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. pressing in one house as in another. quite distinctive." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "You know me, then?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Yes." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "On the contrary, this is the right side." his knees, staring into the fire. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he of receipt of the work. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' only touch the interest." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared your only hope of safety." "They are typewritten," I remarked. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a society." your most interesting statement." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, him and tried to hold him back. during that time.' showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't think, you have already met." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "On your arm?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Yes, at the mines." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition the date of his supposed suicide." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom second." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the loss of it. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "When did she vanish, then?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "ARAT," I read. "So I have heard." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I be best to do. "She walked into the breakfast-room." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "What is it?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the trifles." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "From his hat?" "'Yes, sir.' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that just ask you whether you had heard it.' deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "How did that help you?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "And Miss Sutherland?" "'Then let me do so?' once more for Briony Lodge. paper in the air. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who said he, "my real name is James Ryder." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, we went to search for him, face downward in a little play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Not in the least." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as vault. Project Gutenberg-tm works. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I would give my fortune to have them back."