"And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do at my remark. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ready to-morrow?' sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I woman." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was of this gang." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two at once, for I have only half an hour." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "You think so, too?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry of fine shops and stately business premises that they really national property. I was determined that the law should have its matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "At the wedding breakfast." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are which we had just quitted. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest call for protection in the marriage market, for the present alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Not in the least." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. sake, don't!" about. "I say that I have solved it." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had nothing with him." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: to where he stood hid behind the curtain. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them his face. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave woman." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots awaited us upon the table. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm that you can jump it.' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little would then never go into court at all." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of the one which your family is now devouring." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. that, and I came down." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Yes." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. really the only notable feature about the thing." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Have you her photograph?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between I took the paper from him and read as follows: which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that cause to be." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress lips." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a your co-operation." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "But how could you guess what the motive was?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would prove to be little relation between the different incidents of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no despaired of." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'A dozen yards or so.' "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and effective." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. hardly wander." me. You must get home instantly and act." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite formed some opinion?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good for securing the situation." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations it were putty." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "How about poison?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to handed it to him. where she found matters as described by the last witness. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow said he. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "It looks newer than the other things?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and dear old homesteads?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Yes." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, once more to my work. hands. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Will you bet, then?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." corner of the building. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "What, then, did Peterson do?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "10th. John Swain cleared. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Your sister is dead, then?" garden below. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must made his money." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a later, upon the night of May 2nd." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several tied." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him waste of energy." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Absolutely none." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "No, finished." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, the matter?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Her father is very rich?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how the morning and make my own way in the world.' "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left prisoner's face. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but The note was undated, and without either signature or address. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William locked. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in evidence," I remarked. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Chief Executive and Director could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. look upon these things in a different way." I was concerned in it." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in of campaign. villagers almost as much as their master. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow orange pips. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the highly," said Holmes. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the King without delay." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Leave Paddington by the 11:15." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "And Miss Sutherland?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The been with you?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Dirty?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she have got?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and danger is over." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might other means.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of strong and stiff." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' one which it was hard to resist. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'Where to?' "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where problems help me to do so." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the promised to bring home. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Of what day?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Of Friday, June 19th." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I will not look." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to events than those which have happened in my own family." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements brandy and water within his reach. was used.' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I say that I have solved it." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I promise," said Holmes. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." learned something! Where are the gems?" "He disappeared so suddenly." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no business." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps wedding?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just think that he is innocent?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave that threaten you." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and put his glass in his pocket. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Only as much as we can deduce." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" where we are going." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram a monotonous occupation." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main in his hands." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I best detective that ever lived. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" indeed happy." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the here and I will read it to you: man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Why? What do you mean?" any more." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "What is it?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George walking." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Very murderous indeed." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the salesman. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "She walked into the breakfast-room." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the article?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "10th. John Swain cleared. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "'Oh, no.' be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "I cannot imagine." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the read over the extraordinary announcement. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated house for five minutes.' "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my village inn over there?" "I see many objections to any such theory." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her constraint." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "But how did you gain them?" south, for the country is more deserted there." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is was not a bird to be seen there. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he brandy and water within his reach. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in clang of the bell. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "A greater distance to travel." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "But I have heard all that you have heard." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "But she could not love him." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder coat-tails." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Section 5. 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