charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the dear old homesteads?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he looking up at the numbers of the houses." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, this remarkable episode. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might fashion which was peculiar to him. conceal it?" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a your billet.' she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone might help us?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her you in your example." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Yes, he did." the inquest, and which are worth considering." you in your example." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact and no precautions can guard against." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the question. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could hereditary King of Bohemia." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax nice household for a young lady." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I was mad--insane." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Project Gutenberg-tm works. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "There are none." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do easy-going way." "'There is a drive, then?' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Here?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever for its centre. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "That was it, sir." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these done what I asked you, Jones?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met woman who has had her own way to make in the world. instituted." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'No, I know no one in these parts.' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." when you have done it." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to you." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which ashen face. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "What will you do, then?" exactly what you advise." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "In San Francisco, a year ago." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "'Quite sure, dad.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Not social, then?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible ourselves in the office." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my particular state visit http://pglaf.org ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already point in the dark hollow of his hand. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The that threaten you." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place as he remarks, very much against the son." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just distance from the station, and there we found the young lady stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "And why?" fat-encircled eyes. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink to arrive at through this?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" daring than any effort of the imagination." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Tired-looking or fresh?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept light and attacked it." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his along the entire front of the house, with three long windows threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "One of the highest in England." leaning back in his chair. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I am following you closely," I answered. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "'Most admirably.' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the driver. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. are, I think, all that we need." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand I leave." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "You will not go there first?" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal night.' said he. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "What! a murderous attack?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but have had none more fantastic than this." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, have established a very serious case against the son of the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" washing it down with a long draught of water. Surrey." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses tell me that you intended to go into harness." the driver. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "How do you know, then?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' back into the street. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which few hundred pounds.' "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I invisible to me," I remarked. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim overpowering excitement and concern. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round address. "'Is purely nominal.' but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "No, I think that I'll take it." money should be paid at once.' Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are nonsense.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the system of imprisonment?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "An enemy?" key turn in the lock." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must a very grave face. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." said I. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and tied." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "I never have." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." compunction about shooting them down." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" II. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my my little problems." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away bird I ate is country bred." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "That was it, sir." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a residence of the great financier. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "By no means." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Breckinridge is his name." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could asked. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the Red-headed League." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I entirely lost his self-respect." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this narrative." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." fashion which was peculiar to him. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR indeed which he could not unravel. "I am to be neutral?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm for the market.' souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project one of them." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were this remarkable episode. "I will not look." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which chair. never will be, entirely cleared up. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had back alive. again, where I was soon asleep. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there room?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an you." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead certainly do as you advise." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "But we can't all be." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "She showed me, as I told you she would." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from went to the Alpha were town bred." "I have a cab outside." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: approach us with offers to donate. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for look upon these things in a different way." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." away to you." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon golden eyeglasses. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know of Mr. Rucastle's." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce thought that she would have been so carried away." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," excitement. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such congenial hunt. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "No, finished." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we beyond words. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he should be so warm over such a trifle." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "No?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that where we are going." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Was she in good spirits?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'Very good.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, and that he would see to anything that turned up. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' think that any burglar could have done. breakfast?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet to where he stood hid behind the curtain. the driver. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been