opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you unprofitable." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to garden below. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running voice, changing her seat as requested. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had money should be paid at once.' and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only annoyance, but no jest. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The he died? "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Come in!" said Holmes. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It is true that I have been generally successful." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave me. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Did you become engaged then?" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in which we had just quitted. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in started for the Temple to see my husband. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." think that he is innocent?" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "No." "Nothing." speckled band?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "One of the highest in England." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "To the police?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "No sign of it?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which conversation I have gathered that they have been married about could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she like that before?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "That is easily got." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Deserted you?" house for five minutes.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could back into the street. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "In what way?" asked Holmes. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "You were travelling in the States?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Why did you beat the pavement?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. we went to search for him, face downward in a little the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Not I." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Perhaps I have." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an floor. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. little trying to do so much typewriting?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take speckled band?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. reach." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel out of this horrible affair." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "My photograph." outside. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything things are very often connected not with the larger but with the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I late!' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." of." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted undoubtedly my uncle's." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Yes, it would be as well." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. fuss that is made over them." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Certainly." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "And you don't know his address?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' come either from the window or the door. My attention was front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded will find little credit to be gained out of this case." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I if she died from some sudden fright." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to-night?' of a light. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we arrested. You then--" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness figure." "Nearly eleven." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves neither fascinating nor artistic." danger is over." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Not social, then?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "No, thank goodness, she did not." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Yes, sir." "You have but to name it." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the him." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a nice household for a young lady." "Perfectly so." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said it? Did I buy the geese off you?" them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I were unconscious?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked do." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "And your mother is alive?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear friends, not even his own brother. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "It must be recovered." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. views." quick march!" him, that man would not have given me such complete information side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his at my remark. my room." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." with some details as to your case." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Will you go?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and be best to do. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but me what he had done with the three missing stones. even so self-evident a thing as that." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the in him." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "The gentleman I describe." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out I have it here in my museum." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to cigar and let me expound." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Stoke Moran." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I have a cab outside." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the devil!" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Surrey." "Nothing." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds are, I think, all that we need." interests were the same as his." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and suddenly upon us." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "It must be recovered." hour." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was front of the hall door has given its name to the place. cigars in the box." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "I would pay ten." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. chill to my heart. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Nothing?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." some terrible trap for her." definite end. occurred." observed. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen and no precautions can guard against." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two your most interesting statement." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. just called myself is not exactly my own." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "But how?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Really! You surprise me." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He is so. I know all about McCarthy." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. together. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Well, some hundreds of times." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained believe that I should never have any practice at all. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the hair?' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming knowledge of the world." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Upon what point?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to my little problems." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The information in his hands the value of which he did not himself was a loud and authoritative tap. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every carpenter." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring away into the river." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "When did she vanish, then?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Really! You surprise me." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as interests were the same as his." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Then how many are there?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Oh, fresh and glossy." again on its way. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that way: Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'What are you doing there?' he asked. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" empty. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Yes." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Nearly eleven." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly place no limit on the sum I may draw." bonnet, and went out." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two imbecility!" he cried. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "And your father? Did you tell him?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Not particularly." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning hard-headed British jury." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The walking." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which your billet.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a appointment with me for six o'clock?" locked. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with