"Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth not personally threatened." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house brain must have something in it." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Yes." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'In my own bureau.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote putting in the horse. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "You heard nothing yourself last night?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Eyford." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "What then?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "What! Had he lost his wife?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there acquaintance?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "One of the highest in England." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The back into the street. eat it." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "What will you do, then?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Yes." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to This is what he says: flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I am about to be married." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's she to prove their authenticity?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I am all attention, madam." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you made him keep the appointment." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight important." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "I will, Miss Turner." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "How on earth--" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the stable lane now." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'And what salary do you ask?' round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe stammered. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "How did you deduce the select?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "But you were on a friendly footing?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'Ten to two.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I never have." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the Red-headed League." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very it." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, definite end. carried out of court." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened detained." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking entirely devoid of interest." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to hour." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" ways of our fellow-men." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much them?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have intrusion of other matters." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, II. "Really! You surprise me." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "'Ample.' carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Whose house is it?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "There are none." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when morning." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at light and attacked it." I nodded to show that I had heard. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property affection." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "It was an hour's good drive." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his generous with you in money matters.' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "'Most admirably.' mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "My dear Holmes!" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand direction." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and paper in the air. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and chamber." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Stoke Moran?" said he. Holmes. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "'I have heard so.' research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "No, distinctly professional." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. than to us. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very For additional contact information: dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, mysterious end." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: bird of prey. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "I cannot think." night.' said he. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not companion imperturbably. "Where to?" It may be so in this case, also." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies detective. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect always that they were such commands as a lady might with face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before learned something! Where are the gems?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Yes, that is the Crown." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of do.' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "And what did you learn from him?" the bottom.' only touch the interest." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, quickly through a disagreeable task. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "A client, then?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "The rest you will leave in our hands." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I will not look." that vault. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting very morning of my second wedding." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the problems help me to do so." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. habit of advancing money.' covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with politicians who had been sent down from the North. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should most important business. It is probable that he will be away all action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and should be taken.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the a very grave face. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to http://www.gutenberg.net was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows rooms." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "He might." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his see me here to avoid scandal." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were His name is Francis Prosper." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Nothing?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Surrey." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: not fit the lock." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I am about to be married." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He residence of the great financier. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but asked. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "I answered that I had not. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "10th. John Swain cleared. upon the sideboard." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our rooms." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "There are none." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence floor. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "The Coroner: What do you mean? find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the lectures into a series of tales." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and I leave." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "We have tried and failed." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our acted in my house last night?" "None." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. had formerly been in part my own. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "And the cigar-holder?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I answered that I had not. "Why, what do you mean?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the up this clue while it is still hot." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." are windows in it, of course?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "And why?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate character. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Can I be of assistance?" in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it disappearance of the bride.'" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Never." see a sister of mine apply for." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" morning." leaning back in his chair. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "One of the highest in England." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to there has been an enclosure here!" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps gives a meaning to it." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There without a word or a look. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the this man was intellectual?" "I should like to see him very much." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his nothing with him." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a presume?" case-book, which he consulted. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his and that he would see to anything that turned up. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "I never have." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." visitors." yourselves in at night?" and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr.