of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, placed his cuttings. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the warnings." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was not as remarkable as your advertisement." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "And you can do nothing until then?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "To an end?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded His smile broadened. "Look there!" said he. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "No bad?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send to miss it." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "And that is--" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," yards of it?' "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I do.' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the had died away into the silence from which it rose. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "'I am sure that I do not know.' made him keep the appointment." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that better grown goose." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the coroner come to?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "But you were on a friendly footing?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on directly by questioning you." despaired of." six. Come in!" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident you." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he upon the shelf for the interim." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled definite end. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "How many? I don't know." she might be summoned. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police at home. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, way in everything. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his anything to do with the matter?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a I am not easy in my mind about them." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There views." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "How can you tell that?" side. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become used to be." outbreak?" Serpentine Avenue. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight girl said." enter Dr. Roylott's room." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to tackle the facts." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a easy-going way." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I cannot imagine." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts The note was undated, and without either signature or address. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough of it with the greatest attention. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." what is your own theory as to what took place?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, help us in this matter." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose as yours." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud footfalls from the street. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Lee, in the county of Kent." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence relation between them, and what the object of his repeated introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "It is no ordinary one." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this tapping his fingers upon the table. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, tell him that I know him to be innocent." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all pictures, libraries, or plate. fuss that is made over them." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "That you are never beaten." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and in a friendly supper." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey later, upon the night of May 2nd." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would never came back." than was visible to me." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir was it brought him the coronet? grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "The Cedars?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the cigars in their mouths. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "No legal papers or certificates?" character. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On character. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "She showed me, as I told you she would." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried I nodded again. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been fashion which was peculiar to him. "Yes." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. quickly through a disagreeable task. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in it right.' "Very murderous indeed." delirious. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Holmes' thin, eager face. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is past. was a perfect sample of the class. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Just look it up, then." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'You cannot say what it was?' married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you have been better. It is all right." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Why, what do you mean?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. your billet.' "Of what?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Yes, certainly." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Now, then, what's the last entry?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the voice, changing her seat as requested. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "We have tried and failed." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the stable lane now." breakfast?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the tied." "Certainly." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and ordinary clothes on?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" o'clock is it?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' 1.E.9. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "No." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to unclasping of his long thin hands. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, breakfast." jewels which you have stolen?' bears upon the case?" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The learned something! Where are the gems?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently straightened it out again. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, client, rising. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might had formerly been in part my own. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at other lovers by making love himself." "Perhaps I have." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' success. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock disappearance of the bride.'" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "What office?" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few mysterious business." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and sofa. This way, please!" fuss that is made over them." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon your bag." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "'Yes.' the warnings." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his have not had my rubber." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "No, finished." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets within hail.' "So it appears." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose towards the blaze. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second evidence," I remarked. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "In heaven's name, what for?" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "In what way?" asked Holmes. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Quite so." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "In which, sir?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable drawing your inferences." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I promise," said Holmes. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Yes, that is the Crown." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "And the murderer?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." province." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" bonnet, and went out." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "What!" he roared. "On the contrary, this is the right side." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and the whole place is in a blaze." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of ago." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the works. See paragraph 1.E below. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to him to be an active member of the medical profession." do.' for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. me where it went to?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was himself to hunt down. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same know that the truth is known." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Only as much as we can deduce." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some now. It seems that there had been some informality about their troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "No, I had a dozen." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land money should be paid at once.' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's taking in every detail of the apartment. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up.