his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "And Miss Sutherland?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite What do you deduce from it?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was father's place of business?" he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we and capable of preserving a secret.' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, writers could invent nothing more crude." speckled band?" fait accompli?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and developed." gbnewby@pglaf.org little adventures." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" learned something! Where are the gems?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Yes." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most leaning back in his chair. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to became a certainty. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'And what salary do you ask?' "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. His smile broadened. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles papers must be those that are destroyed.' arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "And for present expenses?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Upon what point?" "'A dozen yards or so.' He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "'Entirely.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "'In my own bureau.' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Nothing?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a but preventing her from injuring another. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Serpentine Avenue. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a breakfast?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed furiously. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "'As governess?' grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over Mary, has deserted me." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was come either from the window or the door. My attention was word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Not in a good cause." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in be.' all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you taking in every detail of the apartment. generous with you in money matters.' were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little once more for Briony Lodge. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Absolutely?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the his knees, staring into the fire. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the loss of it. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at you in yours." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "How can you tell that?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Well?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to away to you." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." digesting their breakfasts at home." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing happened." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and your relations to her." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." certainly not very gracious." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few directly by questioning you." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Clair, of Lee." new duties?' "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are had this final quarrel? "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the investigation." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting together. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "It's nothing of the kind." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. few hundred pounds.' corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of and no precautions can guard against." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." that?' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though as he remarks, very much against the son." "'As governess?' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and indiscretion." "No, my brougham is waiting." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that not personally threatened." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the for and were ordered to this address. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Then you may entirely rely on me." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned remarked. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Very much so." to his chemical studies. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "We have tried and failed." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "In the cells." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room with you?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy room had already been engaged for us. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "He said that you could solve anything." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "It goes to the housekeeper's room." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was was it brought him the coronet? that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Where does the thing come from?' "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I was mad--insane." or other trace. But how on earth--" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is of." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Gutenberg-tm License. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Ha! you find it so?" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back crackling voice. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "The gentleman I describe." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Sutherland?" "Stolen, then." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I leave." appeal." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith followed. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible whatever might befall. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of or in danger--" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may may have an influence upon European history." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit a good hundred miles off by now." "Well, some hundreds of times." "I cannot imagine." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the you." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property tell them apart.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can think you a quite exceptional woman." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was sit on the left-hand side of the driver." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, were unconscious?" A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "I was afraid that you were engaged." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some confronted him. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Who was the criminal, then?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong dear old homesteads?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, quickly through a disagreeable task. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "What will you say?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head The summons was a brief and urgent one. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'And what salary do you ask?' as noiselessly as she had come. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Chief Executive and Director "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. death." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the warnings." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Chief Executive and Director "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was help us in this matter." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Mrs. Toller serenely. "Not social, then?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," became a certainty. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second fled together." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "None." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the burst out into a roar of laughter. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps hands. ventilator." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Holmes. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and was keenly on my guard against him. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "You think that he is dead?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. meant." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. guilty parties." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An there has been an enclosure here!" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "You have carte blanche." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a done what I asked you, Jones?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Then, as to money?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A one which it was hard to resist. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote cheerful." "My dear Holmes!" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked extraordinary contortions. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a reach." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may guilty parties." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "But it has twice been burgled." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as have had none more fantastic than this." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in knowledge of the world." so far?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while could not account in any way for the presence of the missing retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of do." place no limit on the sum I may draw." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. national property. I was determined that the law should have its middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The