to change my dress. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the weary and pale-looking. friends, not even his own brother. walking." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of you." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "And the cigar-holder?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, beg that you will break it off." "Who by?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "How did he come?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy such person." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as direction." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the said he. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper indeed which he could not unravel. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Well, it is a possible supposition." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "But what will you do?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And showing my impatience. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "What will you do, then?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the night.' me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Yes, certainly." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me key of the affair now." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a and a shock of very red hair. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Not I." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Quite so." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed felt?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was DISSOLVED. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian house for five minutes.' "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I promise," said Holmes. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "But his lameness?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Yes.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a I shall continue with my miserable story. my little problems." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Deserted you?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of shag which I had seen upon the previous night. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and a shock of very red hair. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This to-night?" I asked. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were delighted to hear it," he said. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he in the dead of the night?' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I was mad--insane." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of there when the Rucastles went away." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "My dear Holmes!" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The was it brought him the coronet? destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for noble correspondent could be. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and to-night?" I asked. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he about. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, in this way: of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped details should find their way into the papers. Inspector ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "No, distinctly professional." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "What office?" Stoke Moran." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "But how will you look?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony should be so warm over such a trifle." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily I think that I could be of assistance to you." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "It is no ordinary one." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very in. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger he died? started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to do.' have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." you?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her one of the states of the Union." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "I cannot imagine." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that our word." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine page at http://pglaf.org "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "This photograph!" it." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. I have it here in my museum." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" over here." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who redistribution. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Has he come with you to-night?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of The events in question occurred in the early days of my fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City bell. Holmes whistled. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire other lovers by making love himself." that he will be back before evening." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he conceal it?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I am about to be married." chill to my heart. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Did he not advertise?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had details." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a introspective fashion. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Nothing." "You horrify me." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler sofa. This way, please!" into the bag, and made for the door. mystery may be cleared along those lines." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have in my life." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I will get her to show me." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. people in all walks of life. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a you do it in twenty minutes!' sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "How many? I don't know." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of know all about it," he snarled. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled light and attacked it." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it you do it in twenty minutes!' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are bill, which interests me deeply." never came back." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a dramatic, in fact." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "A call for help, you thought?" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Then the page we have seen--" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off shoulder. "Never." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "You have compromised yourself seriously." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to would then never go into court at all." "Well, it is a possible supposition." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Proceed, then." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best figure." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to families. Now for the facts. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural again." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Yes." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat cause to be." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the where we are going." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "But she could not love him." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Yes, all." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in said I. "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was presented more singular features than that which was associated "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." whatever might befall. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources assist you in forming an opinion." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Of Friday, June 19th." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I never have." Count Von Kramm." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Chief Executive and Director chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "But who is he?" closely." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. during which he might have communicated with his friend the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap,