particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the time." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and emerged. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your place no limit on the sum I may draw." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our go--none." "Yes?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away even so self-evident a thing as that." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward nothing of it?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Yes, it would be as well." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' undoubtedly my uncle's." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Where is it, then?" "I never have." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either you." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, it." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you interest. They are important, you understand, without being THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the room while you explain this matter?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had kindly on the shoulder. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. any more." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as 'please.'" touch that coronet?' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in I. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which from you?" of Mr. Rucastle's." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Certainly." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the cigar and let me expound." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. long narrative. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the My friend smiled. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "He said too much." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my be there in time for your coming." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no secret." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "On Monday." him, that man would not have given me such complete information gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the suspect him." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door soul! here is her carriage at the door." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were as noiselessly as she had come. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." I nodded to show that I had heard. bears upon the case?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "And leave your case unfinished?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Then he might have called to you?" which it had come upon my father." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Your French gold?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Farm upon the left." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if quick march!" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back as yours." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged light and attacked it." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Imitated." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest walking." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," it? Did I buy the geese off you?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Yes, all." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. someone who had been in Australia." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Yes, sir." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I me have 200 pounds?' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his just called myself is not exactly my own." asked. himself in a perplexing position. some water from a caraffe. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate arms and began to sob in a high treble key. fasten all the windows?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "At half-wages, in fact." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing back to my heart. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Yes, from Horsham." events than those which have happened in my own family." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the keep the flames under. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and you." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a and looked back. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Then I am your man." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to surprise her." "'Is purely nominal.' upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "And why?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "'Oh, no.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have away into the river." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "No bad?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "But how?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "One of his hands." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have persecution?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own straightened it out again. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in his hands." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress to surprise her." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have have not had my rubber." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the easy-going way." happened." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; that you wished to speak to me?' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small national property. I was determined that the law should have its week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "But his left-handedness." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by a little more before I quite committed myself. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at DISSOLVED. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "My last client of the sort was a king." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at with you?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed You can understand that this register and diary may implicate reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we figure." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as there in twenty minutes." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his This is what he says: inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my once more to my work. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have strength." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "No." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Seven!" I answered. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a hurried by. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the house with me." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Ten will be early enough." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is over part of the map. "What do you read?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and been deceived." "My dear Holmes!" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment one's self under obligations.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Of what day?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite sake, don't!" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his have established a very serious case against the son of the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. asked with his eyes open. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well he bowed and left the room without another word. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "And help." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and that he would see to anything that turned up. not, dad?" she asked. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no rose-bushes. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Look there!" said he. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources triumphant cloud from his cigarette. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought place, I think that there is good ground to think that the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out likely to be some crony of the landlady's." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "No, I had a dozen." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Always." "And your father? Did you tell him?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Mrs. Toller serenely. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a singular points about the case. What did the police think of the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "You'll never persuade me to believe that." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "It was an hour's good drive." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and felt the room to be a little close.' and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it companion. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at conduct the inquiry." o'clock is it?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "I am armed." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "You have carte blanche." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't coroner's jury." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Pray let us have it, for all that."