vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. several quiet little villages up there." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of You want to know what became of those geese?" "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "What will you do, then?" "And from a noble client?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned 1.F. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be and I shall be with you presently." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always bed dies. Does not that strike you?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered completely overtopped every other consideration that we both behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Never." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "They are typewritten," I remarked. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. where we are going." "Who by?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business through." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Certainly." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little carriage. It was a chestnut." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I should wish to." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered that he will be back before evening." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." within hail.' believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. him!" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall subject to the trademark license, especially commercial three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Then I can wait in the next room." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of his cane at the bell-pull. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Precisely." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of receipt of the work. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Sutherland?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "What do you mean?" there has been an enclosure here!" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front to me. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as said he. legal crime." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "But how?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from hair?' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the King without delay." compunction about shooting them down." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than was a perfect sample of the class. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, your Highness to the police-station?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close ventilator." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned I. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "None." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him and have this put in the evening papers." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being to-night?' "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias writing, and yet I know it well." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, he bowed and left the room without another word. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." begun to whiten, even as mine has." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very letters?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "When did it break out?" "My Mary? Impossible!" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was it brought him the coronet? daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high as he remarks, very much against the son." your bag." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, awaited us upon the table. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I don't believe it." formed some opinion?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in outside." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Pray do so." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. it with his own hands." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining where she found matters as described by the last witness. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very point in the dark hollow of his hand. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." emerged. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and a shock of very red hair. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a than was visible to me." roused himself from his reverie. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in there." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little here." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. of a light. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Yes." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the King without delay." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "By train from Waterloo." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "He might." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, coat-tails." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average is four-and-twenty." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell right! Sit down and let us talk it over." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a http://www.gutenberg.net "Did you become engaged then?" one of them." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some allusion to a rat. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." future lives." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic vague figure huddled up in the darkness. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the papers diligently of late, have you not?" Gutenberg-tm License. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "In the cells." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to fire. You quite follow me?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "When did it break out?" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who comes from the middle window." the address that was given us in the advertisement. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Deserted you?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too in the port of London." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "It is very clear." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and whereabouts. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Nothing." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long conduct the inquiry." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I will try. What is it?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so question. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was your own bird, so if you wish--" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." populous neighbourhood." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, minor matters until to-morrow." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any as yours." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a that?' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an here." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and me where it went to?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made some city in a dream. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet said he. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I was lame." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of wedding?" DAMAGE. is so. I know all about McCarthy." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I instincts rose up against that laugh. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "It was." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I see no marks." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'A dozen yards or so.' set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Yes." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Yes, only one." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole mystery." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll again." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes used to be." key of the affair now." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness appeared upon the scene." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the waste of energy." be best to do. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I answered that I had not. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in interests were the same as his." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's depend upon your compliance." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped intimate personal affairs in this public manner." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER more solid." cause to be." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "The landlord of the Alpha." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I cannot imagine." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away to-night's adventure." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I strength of mind to control. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "What of the rat, then?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few