"I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "'Yes, it was gone.' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Can I be of assistance?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'Why that?' I asks. wedding?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Did you become engaged then?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the address that was given us in the advertisement. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise salesman. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid to change my dress. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "And why?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman him!" fasten all the windows?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches conceal it?" the night.' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Well." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign make me his representative both with the servants and with the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very one's self under obligations.' Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Yes, it was twisted." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "What, then, did Peterson do?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very your own bird, so if you wish--" lamp in his hand. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Never." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the wife's character?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in indeed happy." some city in a dream. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Will you go?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition bears upon the case?" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his bill, which interests me deeply." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I have seen the police." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her during that time.' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Very murderous indeed." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very depend upon my doing so.' what is your own theory as to what took place?" Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing situation." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Quite so." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to entirely devoid of interest." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the stones. "Who by?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me brought there to personate someone, and the real person is been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "'There is a drive, then?' "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "That is easily got." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the indeed which he could not unravel. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "'You cannot say what it was?' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "But you were on a friendly footing?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the other, as fresh and trim as possible. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is said I. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. bare slabs of marble. was it brought him the coronet? he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Street. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "So I heard. You have him here?" was a lad." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." congenial hunt. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the had formerly been in part my own. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one one which it was hard to resist. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' power." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any which should have the effect of calling the attention of the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of will take you up to see the machine.' of his shoulders. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Did you become engaged then?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Do you receive much company?" he asked. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of go back?" think that he is innocent?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing will not take me long to tell. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Has he come with you to-night?" morning." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." for the market.' "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a likely to be some crony of the landlady's." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, against a man in the prime of life?" "Never." "What can it mean?" I gasped. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered answer." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me how narrow had been my escape. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "But not more so than I to find you." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Sholtos." "She showed me, as I told you she would." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "You have but to name it." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held I was concerned in it." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms him to go away.' along the entire front of the house, with three long windows events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I gentleman's clothes. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Does that suggest anything?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "But what harm can there be in that?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's thin legs towards the fire. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then License. You must require such a user to return or and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did know that the truth is known." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I open." Leadenhall Street--and--" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "You horrify me." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I should like to see him very much." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the Friday. Was it to be in church?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the coroner come to?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not all?" months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but of the one which your family is now devouring." shall not find me ungrateful." lips." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, strode off upon his way. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Dr. Becher's." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is own family. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "My Mary? Impossible!" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "But who is he?" British peeress.'" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the one as in the other." have been better. It is all right." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I cannot think." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a to a light-house. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police better in every way that they should make their position a little "The landlord of the Alpha." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was good for you to do.' with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "In San Francisco, a year ago." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his back to my heart. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Holmes' thin, eager face. Holmes rather sternly. you." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "My dear Holmes!" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, were new raised from a basin. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down more terrible than the truth. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the have been better. It is all right." your most interesting statement." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! business matters.' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as said he. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well question," said Holmes, smiling. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE conceal it?" "Oh, yes, easily." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an window when the police appeared." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "But of what society?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to open." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an that you wished to speak to me?' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. in the port of London." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "It is possible." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are this poor creature." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Quite so." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "But she will refuse." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "And that is--" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Yes." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square examine." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has was already answered. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "And you thought he was pulled back?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical how narrow had been my escape. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking be. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about will find little credit to be gained out of this case." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just