"So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled congenial hunt. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless him nearly every evening." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring get the tickets." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We some city in a dream. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the stones. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that plantation.' little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the this poor creature." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some late!' was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is good for you to do.' A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for question," said Holmes, smiling. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Then, as to money?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy man. I know him from the photograph." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Where to?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and her also." "The best possible." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the better grown goose." "I was sure that I might rely on you." dead, shall be safe with us." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is http://www.gutenberg.net "I shall be delighted." "And sit in the dark?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its less than 26s. 4d. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know for the market.' SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Stolen, then." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was his forehead." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was kind enough to tell me what I should do." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong corner of the building. "Texas, I think." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Watson," he said cordially. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an outbreak?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "'About the same.' All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Doctor, of the paper and the date." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no The summons was a brief and urgent one. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "How can you tell that?" yourselves in at night?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a will be renamed. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "'Quite sure, dad.' mystery may be cleared along those lines." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Why did you beat the pavement?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "By no means." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been address. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to yet." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the to a light-house. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers question you as to those details which seem to me to be most I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a mysterious business." "Can I be of assistance?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. in one or two places in England?' kind enough to tell me what I should do." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Ten will be early enough." daring than any effort of the imagination." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "The landlord of the Alpha." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that in the dead of the night?' the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, happened." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when weary and pale-looking. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Not I." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'You cannot say what it was?' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to it." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From forbidden door. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Why? What do you mean?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "There are none." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been as yours." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Holmes' room. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom and have this put in the evening papers." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of of the vacancies.' have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "My dear Holmes!" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Very good.' "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I see no marks." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "I should wish to." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a nothing of it?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Really! You surprise me." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Which are?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then heavily into it. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average habit of advancing money.' "We have tried and failed." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel it? Did I buy the geese off you?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement not come at once?" hand, madam?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far train from Paddington which would bring you there at about off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "'I have heard so.' be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Yes." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" whether it answered to the description of any of their Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Was he the only applicant?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a them present such singular features as the strange train of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Not him." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "'Yes.' of fine shops and stately business premises that they really as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! anything to a woman, for she would have her way." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. thirty. your only hope of safety." thought that she would have been so carried away." "I will not look." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of might help us?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if wedding?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Ten will be early enough." eavesdroppers?' that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Oh, yes, easily." hopeless attempt at recovering them." used to be." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. within hail.' "And your mother is alive?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some quick march!" it right.' reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" quite distinctive." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. business at Coburg Square is serious." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Does that suggest anything?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Yes, certainly." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. at my own good fortune. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must papers must be those that are destroyed.' him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of yourselves in at night?" "None." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Did he not advertise?" do.' until night should bring an explanation. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "But what is it you wish?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier man. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Yes." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and you, my dear young lady?' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "The Coroner: What do you mean? would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly whole matter to your consideration." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too likely to be some crony of the landlady's." him, that man would not have given me such complete information heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project becomes even more simple." third from London." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Lee, in the county of Kent." the tragedy. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. it were putty." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually which was all perfectly true. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply could not account in any way for the presence of the missing for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all served to weaken the effect. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of leaning back in his chair. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he that there was nothing in it, after all." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts murdered man." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "How about poison?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very the inner apartment." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "But who is he?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he