"And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." was shining brightly. promised to bring home. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "What I expected to see." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Yes, from Horsham." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled better in every way that they should make their position a little in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his would then never go into court at all." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "One of his hands." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "What steps will you take?" I asked. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have murdered man." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. been." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who she to prove their authenticity?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "So I heard. You have him here?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "What shall I do?" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Why? What do you mean?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "And you thought he was pulled back?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "My Mary? Impossible!" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and a shock of very red hair. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "'Ten to two.' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to a little more before I quite committed myself. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly to talk it over. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from you do it in twenty minutes!' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "How can you tell that?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "And you thought he was pulled back?" written. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for conclusions. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door out of this horrible affair." "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray exactly what you advise." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the my room." "Well, but China?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the in. spark where all is dark to me." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he indeed which he could not unravel. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is skylight. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "On Monday." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "What, then?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "I was sure that I might rely on you." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Certainly." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know flock.' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I fact, we may call it conclusive." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his present." observed. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Never." "You have but to name it." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were characteristics, but those are the more obvious." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few come either from the window or the door. My attention was successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "My dear Holmes!" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." at home. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest Arthur Conan Doyle "Certainly." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'Which dealer's?' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been was a lad." to take care of herself." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief security.' knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "But his lameness?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon be sorry for having acted so harshly." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most said I. ran thus: floor. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Then I can wait in the next room." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "An enemy?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Holmes' face clouded over. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty geese which you supplied to the Alpha." his eyes and forehead. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this you?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day it means?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "But I have heard all that you have heard." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and clanging. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the what I may call a really hard day's work." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "'Yes.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Stolen." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an followed. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Then he might have called to you?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, lamp in his hand. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in tapping his fingers upon the table. to miss it." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." I leave." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will you." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and not within a twentieth part of the market price." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of recall any case within my experience which looked at the first weapon." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the salesman. thin legs towards the fire. despair." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united of the efforts of the United States government and of the better rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an noise which awoke you from your sleep?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Then I do not see the point." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we hurried away. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I don't say that. Perhaps." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Stoke Moran." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too 11:15.' said he. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Yes." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "But she will refuse." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Yes." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "And how did you verify them?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Deserted you?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "You are hungry," I remarked. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to have been novel and of interest." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "In San Francisco, a year ago." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a think that he is innocent?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which photograph a cabinet?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Holmes." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to fasten all the windows?" you." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was which should have the effect of calling the attention of the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and The King stared at him in amazement. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in London for the present?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about ready to-morrow?' to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the had this final quarrel? about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the that he will be back before evening." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." in a friendly supper." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. thought that she would have been so carried away." "'Quite sure, dad.' 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked hardly wander." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked of the one which your family is now devouring." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "It is true that I have been generally successful." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "You will not go there first?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "ARAT," I read. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple society." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "He might." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry foresight and the moral retrogression?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "'What then?' I asked. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the carried out of court." "'Never.' succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the 11:15.' fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered wife's character?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "No, finished." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a investigation." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I