opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." wedding?" "And help." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go It may be so in this case, also." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion unkempt, staring out at me. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Not yet." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some never to learn it at all." drawing your inferences." society." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, prepare for the new role I have to play." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the she might be summoned. "No, thank goodness, she did not." touch that coronet?' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he II. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE allusion to a rat. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "But of what society?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever excitement. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, of it with the greatest attention. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Then how many are there?" room?" carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an remarked. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Quite sure, dad.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Lee, in the county of Kent." that I am arrested." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "How did you trace it, then?" chemical work which was so dear to him. weary and pale-looking. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'Which dealer's?' passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage he died? "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "What will you do, then?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of trifles." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking and the colonel ushered me in. indiscretion." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back never to learn it at all." "I will get her to show me." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Game for a morning drive?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not rooms." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "How did that help you?" the coronet in his hand?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his appeal." "But who is he?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "What do you make of that, Watson?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly him to be an active member of the medical profession." with some details as to your case." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "And how did you find out?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Was he the only applicant?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would your most interesting statement." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Deserted you?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from electronic works Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I was certainly surprised to find you there." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "'Yes, sir.' few hundred pounds.' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' leave you to your papers for a little." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "What of the rat, then?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my his wife has ceased to love him." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you My friend smiled. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I am armed." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly details should find their way into the papers. Inspector electronic works "Witness: I must still refuse. exactly what you advise." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable cigars in the box." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are undoubtedly my uncle's." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend was used.' much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Witness: It was. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Yes." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly all?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his his grey eyes. said he. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "And it is--" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Then, how do you know?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his cheerful." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of to affect your life." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "You have it, sir, just as it happened." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'Ten to two.' until night should bring an explanation. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in putting in the horse. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless posted to-day." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the memory. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Where is it, then?" room?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms there was no need for father to know." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "You are all wrong." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the I am not easy in my mind about them." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "And why in hopes?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "The knees of his trousers." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark chill to my heart. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but made him keep the appointment." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'I have heard so.' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father if I call to-morrow?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was again before evening." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And now?" I asked. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Why, what do you mean?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue throat." window when the police appeared." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Farm upon the left." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did his huge brown hands. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor could not have written that. It is the German who is so desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'It is locked up,' I answered. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "'I have already given you my word.' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old done what I asked you, Jones?" next day. and no precautions can guard against." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "That is not always so easy." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with highroad, where all traces were lost. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged putting in the horse. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the that he has suffered." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "No." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I cannot think." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which room. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Holmes' thin, eager face. golden eyeglasses. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Never to return." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, invisible to me," I remarked. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." my little problems." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late made him keep the appointment." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Heh?' told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he envelope. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Eyford." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, me where it went to?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and one which it was hard to resist. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "And the cigar-holder?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was to miss it." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you not interfere, come what may. You understand?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "I came to find a friend." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, occurred." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were and no precautions can guard against." "Yes, he did." for securing the situation." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point