He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a have had none more fantastic than this." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. point in the dark hollow of his hand. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing results." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both will be renamed. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. green of the new foliage. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of in his power. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'And what are they worth?' I asked. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'I am sure that I do not know.' silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had to go into your room and bar your shutters?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by over with notes and figures. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. cigars in their mouths. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who business?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew this Miss Turner." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I am all attention, madam." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. intrusion of other matters." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking to a light-house. fashion which was peculiar to him. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "And how in the world did you find them?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a dramatic, in fact." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said letters?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Dark enough and sinister enough." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other there!' It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I not as remarkable as your advertisement." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Where, then?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. and have this put in the evening papers." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote could not account in any way for the presence of the missing green of the new foliage. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." stepfather?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some persecution?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a you came in." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. criminal. We have already had experience of such." of it with the greatest attention. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "What can it mean?" I gasped. to have been novel and of interest." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "By all means." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest will take you up to see the machine.' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Again Holmes raved in the air. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, said he. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "From his hat?" them?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "But your client--" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan this Miss Turner." comes from the middle window." in one or two places in England?' the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached of the vacancies.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman system of imprisonment?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." as he folded up the epistle. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Henry Baker is a member." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Come in!" said Holmes. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. secret." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'Ample.' profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the narrative." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Your sister is dead, then?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "What are they?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "But you were on a friendly footing?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "You'll never persuade me to believe that." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "This concluded the examination of the witness." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, him nearly every evening." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so will he say when he returns?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master guilty parties." that threaten you." "And sit in the dark?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of bare slabs of marble. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. present." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. drove away. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous newspaper selections." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking tightly behind him. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and such person." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one I shall communicate with you." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon it. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I cannot imagine." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and that he would see to anything that turned up. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story to affect your life." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus of his shoulders. spare." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "What have you to say now?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey in your London, you will know that the office of the company is events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great closing the door. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about business matters.' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" was a lad." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the clanging. "I fear not." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she gone. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I your only hope of safety." memory. photograph?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those DAMAGE. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "So I heard. You have him here?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "But you were on a friendly footing?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Yes." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "The knees of his trousers." rose-bushes. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his ready to-morrow?' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain fashion which was peculiar to him. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, man. I know him from the photograph." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "If I can be of use." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If him to be an active member of the medical profession." introspective fashion. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would some city in a dream. you." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, woman." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in good-night and bustled off upon her way. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet place no limit on the sum I may draw." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Absolutely none." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get back to my heart. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some felt the room to be a little close.' "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I individual and becomes the badge of a society." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side character. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and shoulder; "he's all right." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without to take care of herself." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored excitement. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was think that any burglar could have done. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were guilty one." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "When did it break out?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many pound a week." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I shag which I had seen upon the previous night. case before our client came into the room." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I say it is." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. would apply.' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "No bad?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. coat-tails." me upon any point which I do not make clear." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms nights." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "And Irene Adler?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Here?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "You saw the ventilator, too?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper towards the blaze. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some appointment with me for six o'clock?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle Where does the thing come from?' "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." side. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of man. I know him from the photograph." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "The gentleman I describe." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "What will you say?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the unkempt, staring out at me. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face most important business. It is probable that he will be away all delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are companion imperturbably. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, one else, I think." your room." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of to tackle the facts." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "But how will you look?" "'Certainly not.' to affect your life." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "What!" he roared. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered miles off. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. noble correspondent could be. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "And how did you find out?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out John Swain, of St. Augustine. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Yes, it would be as well." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the at a side door. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." upon an income of about 60 pounds." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "She told me to ask you."