"And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as page at http://pglaf.org their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while gentleman's clothes. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Look there!" said he. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had for the market.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Where, then?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "So I am. Very much so." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," you for a few hours?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the dramatic, in fact." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study I have it here in my museum." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "But his left-handedness." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow undoubtedly my uncle's." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have out." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "It is solved." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was business?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your must be when I saw the door open.' "At half-wages, in fact." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I details." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "So it appears." dramatic, in fact." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire that you wished to speak to me?' "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "At half-wages, in fact." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth felt?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest which we had just quitted. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling drawing your inferences." are windows in it, of course?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." my room." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would and I shall be with you presently." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some my special province." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "I don't believe it." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I leave." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the side-table." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, leave you to your papers for a little." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY over with notes and figures. carpenter." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." than was visible to me." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" lamp in his hand. to miss it." it were putty." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'I shall certainly be there.' about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Absolutely none." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly that I may have something better before very many minutes are lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "His face fell immediately. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" unprofitable." this Miss Turner." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Then he might have called to you?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Surrey." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Yes, certainly." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you heavy and sharp instrument." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow might help us?" lectures into a series of tales." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his and the whole place is in a blaze." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' lectures into a series of tales." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that it were putty." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could signal between you and your father? predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the I have it here in my museum." and have this put in the evening papers." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "The decline of his fortunes, then?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis lids now and glanced across at his visitor. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, a suggestive one." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." but preventing her from injuring another. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "I don't say that. Perhaps." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came be sorry for having acted so harshly." past. would apply.' the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an swore that no one else had been in the front room during the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "No?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, with you?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of new acquaintance to Baker Street. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, is now desirous of getting those letters back." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the Red-headed League." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Do you go out much in society?" any." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the coronet at all injured?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I am all attention, madam." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few had this final quarrel? work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' be.' 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each did not hear it also.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to in. to change my dress. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have wedding?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a exactly what you advise." "One of his hands." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Stolen, then." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "The Coroner: What do you mean? facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by colonel looking down at me. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Ha! you find it so?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the devil!" rat could hardly pass through." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about she might be summoned. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "What office?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He system of imprisonment?" that you wished to speak to me?' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how the Friday. Was it to be in church?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling bare slabs of marble. "Do you go out much in society?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "What are they?" room had already been engaged for us. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still intrusion of other matters." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his head. So long, then!" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "By no means." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for your co-operation." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get I. strode off upon his way. the best of training." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "An accident, I presume?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., particular state visit http://pglaf.org tear off another piece?' "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in other lovers by making love himself." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "No sign of it?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows it were putty." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Game for a morning drive?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when detective. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and rooms." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay questionable one." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with seven miles from Eyford Station.' would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I meant it for the best. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, I was concerned in it." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "No." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "If I can be of use." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he from you?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "What shall I do?" fled together." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "'Where could I find him?' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the his face which made him a very different person to the round, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "And what did you learn from him?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," new duties?' "Oh, yes, easily." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "And what then?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was ashen face. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all papers on the sundial.'" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his families. Now for the facts. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots lips." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "A thing like a cleaver," said he. promised to bring home. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall not interfere, come what may. You understand?" his grey eyes. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The train.' of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord power."