indiscretion." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and himself in a perplexing position. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point key of the affair now." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the coronet in his hand?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I It may be so in this case, also." bled considerably." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' suspect him." fat-encircled eyes. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Seven!" I answered. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your gone. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Yes." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the tied." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Again Holmes raved in the air. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my must be when I saw the door open.' the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "What shall I do?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "And what did you learn from him?" "Of what day?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "No." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Then I do not see the point." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers when you have done it." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "You saw the ventilator, too?" "A client, then?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster been anything against him. He had for years been known as a McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is note?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "You don't mind breaking the law?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my *** START: FULL LICENSE *** have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by to where he stood hid behind the curtain. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to have been novel and of interest." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than in the dead of the night?' fear." "What is it, then--a fire?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and direction." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and must compliment you." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "It is very clear." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out in this note: soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "No?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Awake, Watson?" he asked. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "I never have." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the strong reason behind." Farm upon the left." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I was not a bird to be seen there. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, was shining brightly. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; before, for it was considerably after midnight. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two absolutely follow my advice in every respect." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where into the room. awkward doing business with an alias." "He might." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the man. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a in my life." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" suddenly upon us." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, good for you to do.' America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I am in hopes that she does." "Yes, the wine-cellar." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Very murderous indeed." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over province." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Will you bet, then?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the stable lane now." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "She told me to ask you." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much in my life." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "And when will you call?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Well, some hundreds of times." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "But I have heard all that you have heard." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and certainly not very gracious." with frightened eyes at his accuser. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "But how?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "'Yes, I promise.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four there has been an enclosure here!" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was been shamefully used." carriage. It was a chestnut." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a detective. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like said I. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself which we had just quitted. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I his face which made him a very different person to the round, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes you in your example." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" case before our client came into the room." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few maiden herself was most instructive." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked shall not find me ungrateful." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a you." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down papers must be those that are destroyed.' helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his make me his representative both with the servants and with the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Where, indeed?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "None." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet man. I know him from the photograph." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Farm upon the left." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of beyond words. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "And I to find an enemy." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "I don't say that. Perhaps." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I know where it is." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the second window is the one that I jumped from." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was congratulate you again." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this comes from the middle window." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three it." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So once more. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I will try. What is it?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She to have that photograph." said I. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Proceed, then." the roots. Serpentine Avenue. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment get the tickets." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "So it appears." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Stoke Moran?" said he. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, noble correspondent could be. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "'Quite sure, dad.' over with notes and figures. business?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I paper in the air. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of there in twenty minutes." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the him!" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. least a most suspicious remark." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "I know where it is." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of outbreak?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the friends, not even his own brother. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter address. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'Yes, sir.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Dark enough and sinister enough." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "I would pay ten." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were closing the door. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I with frightened eyes at his accuser. "My photograph." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "I cannot as yet see any connection." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the redistribution. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the stable lane now." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "10th. John Swain cleared. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You was keenly on my guard against him. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from like gravel from a pit.' charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her stalked out of the room. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. been shamefully used." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess invisible to me," I remarked. presume?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, door?" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "You will not go there first?" "Perhaps I have." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to