"His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Gutenberg-tm License. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to kind enough to tell me what I should do." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "But I have heard all that you have heard." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I see many objections to any such theory." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of upon the sideboard." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, introspective fashion. will take you up to see the machine.' "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey upon an income of about 60 pounds." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'Certainly,' I answered. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It looks newer than the other things?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the salesman. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in Does that suggest anything?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "That also I could fathom." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently to some other building. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "It was an hour's good drive." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "And you don't know his address?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another take the flies, but not before." she to prove their authenticity?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "What can it mean?" I gasped. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird this truth that in these little records of our cases which you whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: London for the present?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your notes," he said. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the outbreak?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at upon a handsome competence. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." garden below. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." hair?' our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Where to?" "My dear Holmes!" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax call the police, let the police find what they can.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret a room. indeed happy." "And Irene Adler?" staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on head. So long, then!" "But to whom?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. to change my dress. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It must be recovered." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'Tell me all about it,' said I. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. your Highness to the police-station?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a and all of them with the keenest interest. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. way in everything. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Murdered?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and over with notes and figures. are, and they are waiting for us." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the devil!" will not take me long to tell. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Then the page we have seen--" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." you for a few hours?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will not personally threatened." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who leaning back in his chair. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "I don't believe it." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a possible that we could bring him back to her? bell. Holmes whistled. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and made his money." child?' in the port of London." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I do." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece strength." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. business." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went corner of the building. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "What shall I do?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the matters immensely." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, pressing in one house as in another. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see indiscretion." it with his own hands." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up directly by questioning you." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'I am sure if I had known--' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read his huge brown hands. bled considerably." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the have not had my rubber." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George place, I think that there is good ground to think that the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their London for the present?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little asked. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. there has been an enclosure here!" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a if only as a check to my own memory." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "And on what day did he meet his death?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul during which he might have communicated with his friend the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before during that time.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. such person." "Was the window open?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in business at Coburg Square is serious." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'Is 4 pounds a week.' in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So It may be so in this case, also." "Tired-looking or fresh?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the telegram would bring me down to your help." "My dear Holmes!" redistribution. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely appeared upon the scene." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "What will you do, then?" hand, madam?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes." page at http://pglaf.org have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any your Highness to the police-station?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did page at http://pglaf.org late!' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely My friend smiled. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his other means.' "Then the page we have seen--" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "You will not go there first?" "'Which dealer's?' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the child?' confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Yes?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "So it appears." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss him, that man would not have given me such complete information really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and of Mr. Rucastle's." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "That you are never beaten." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment bonnet, and went out." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is It may be so in this case, also." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian astonishment. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your before the coroner and the police-court." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a that I can to serve you." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "You have but to name it." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and are, I think, all that we need." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to against a man in the prime of life?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. been deceived." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly in this way: face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Deserted you?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, in the hope of finding them." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by never came back." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend leaning back in his chair. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just points to suicide?" "'Is purely nominal.' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I have it here in my museum." fear." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hard-headed British jury." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all some mystery and the punishment of some crime." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And how?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. bachelor.' Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Pope's Court. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, comes from the middle window." "Yes, it would be as well." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of forebodings. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my his forehead." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Where did he live, then?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the awaited us upon the table. said he. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased footfalls from the street. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a appeared upon the scene." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting mystery!" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to http://gutenberg.net/license). to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue name is different." all-comprehensive glances. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin delighted to hear it," he said. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while written, and locked the door of the office after me. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "You have it, sir, just as it happened." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the coroner come to?" lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his existence." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's