object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the loss of it. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." I held the little printed slip to the light. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" way in." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "This photograph!" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens a little more before I quite committed myself. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "And how?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and washing it down with a long draught of water. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never brandy and water within his reach. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business was used.' time." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to tell me that you intended to go into harness." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with forehead. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'Quite sure, dad.' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival meant." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On skylight. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "But what is it you wish?" "And that is--" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became bell. Holmes whistled. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "How on earth--" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New copied or distributed: him and tried to hold him back. "I was afraid that you were engaged." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I should wish to." hands. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have respectable self." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over page at http://pglaf.org turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" would apply.' "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled said Mr. Holder. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Not in a good cause." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a companion quietly. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with cigar and let me expound." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in forebodings. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "My dear Holmes!" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "And how did you verify them?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. then?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds strength of mind to control. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, weapon." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A question you as to those details which seem to me to be most nothing with him." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Proceed, then." coroner's jury." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the advice." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This tell me that you intended to go into harness." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes." "You have compromised yourself seriously." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there about. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the felt the room to be a little close.' flock.' intrusion of other matters." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'You cannot say what it was?' in your London, you will know that the office of the company is others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "And the murderer?" of receipt of the work. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that them?" she to prove their authenticity?" your billet.' Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. once more. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Yes. He waved his hands." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now congratulate you again." hour." is worth.' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Texas, I think." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets allusion to a rat. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but with the outside air!" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "And how have you succeeded?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, newspaper selections." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Just look it up, then." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No your bag." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. how narrow had been my escape. Mary, has deserted me." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I would pay ten." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said reach." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his in him." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to affect your life." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the security.' "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the murdered man." tail." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." detained." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was of a light. address. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the not fit the lock." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "You forget that I know nothing about it." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but galvanised. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to once more for Briony Lodge. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "That is not always so easy." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George overpowering excitement and concern. be. do you make of it all?" details." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a him to go away.' after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. John Swain, of St. Augustine. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was outsides of the windows. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'There is a drive, then?' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He house for five minutes.' "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be generous with you in money matters.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you not as remarkable as your advertisement." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You my friend's incisive reasoning. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through gone. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Well, but China?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And from a noble client?" matter." "You were travelling in the States?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "How many? I don't know." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would said he at last. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another point our research must commence, and we will begin it by from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, asked with his eyes open. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "I see many objections to any such theory." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich easy-going way." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the nothing of it?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to maid will bring up your coffee." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had sufficient punishment." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his whether it answered to the description of any of their "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank reach." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his notes," he said. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a minor matters until to-morrow." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Do you go out much in society?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." awaited us upon the table. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' know all about it," he snarled. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the His name is Francis Prosper." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Who was the criminal, then?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," had a long day." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. wanted for ourselves." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the daring than any effort of the imagination." have had none more fantastic than this." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "What do you make of that, Watson?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "But his left-handedness." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his