"What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and even so self-evident a thing as that." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." six. Come in!" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Yes." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor directors have had misgivings upon the subject." cost them two and thirty pounds." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is do you make of it all?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He points in connection with it which never have been, and probably succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the villagers almost as much as their master. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I it right.' What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the It may be so in this case, also." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper that there was nothing in it, after all." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with approach us with offers to donate. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and inquire as to the address." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change stepfather?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. carpenter." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the there was no need for father to know." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard just called myself is not exactly my own." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in the hope of finding them." mystery." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I know where it is." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be along the entire front of the house, with three long windows is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and fled together." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the said he. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. coat-tails." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a should be so warm over such a trifle." forbidden door. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "It is no ordinary one." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And the murderer?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "By all means." of his shoulders. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." over here." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Witness: It was. "No, I think that I'll take it." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, sir." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not advice." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying maiden herself was most instructive." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical stepfather?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little read it out to me." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came more terrible than the truth. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or conceal it?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden brain must have something in it." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "I will not look." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the coronet in his hand?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Then he might have called to you?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Then I do not see the point." place of silver." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, room. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and leaning back in his chair. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if could not account in any way for the presence of the missing of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last vanished into the darkness. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation deduce something from that?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "What! Had he lost his wife?" has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the lectures into a series of tales." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed 'I should be able to look after that for you.' parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too that you wished to speak to me?' Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I was sure that I might rely on you." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Entirely." "We must have a cab." helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were a room. "Indeed! Whose, then?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Because he was handy and would come cheap." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had it." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. electronic works "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'Oh, no.' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Was he the only applicant?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for certainly not very gracious." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent careless servant girl?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up imbecility!" he cried. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! works. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "None." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." over part of the map. "What do you read?" a suggestive one." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Dark enough and sinister enough." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." 'please.'" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "And it is--" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "'Yes, sir.' passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, as he remarks, very much against the son." out." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to his chemical studies. congratulate you again." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "I do." take the flies, but not before." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very was shining brightly. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she cigars in the box." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, were wasted." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Not yet." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and criminal. We have already had experience of such." mystery." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem you in your example." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "I assure you that I am in your hands." clang of the bell. crowd. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too License. You must require such a user to return or eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "The gentleman I describe." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "You forget that I know nothing about it." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and it." "But who is he?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should upon the shelf for the interim." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a would then never go into court at all." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my to have been novel and of interest." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the ventilator." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the had picked up in the wood. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about or other trace. But how on earth--" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I warn you that they are very incomplete." present." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "'I have heard so.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. least a fellow-countryman. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the gone. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "No." as yours." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "At half-wages, in fact." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out it right.' Mary, has deserted me." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from here." think you a quite exceptional woman." secret." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "You know me, then?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at http://gutenberg.net/license). have had none more fantastic than this." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I that, and I came down." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed brain must have something in it." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a residence of the great financier. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought bird I ate is country bred." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' that there was nothing in it, after all." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to leaning back in his chair. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and prosperity to your house. Good-night." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Holmes' thin, eager face. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "My opinion is in no way altered." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his go back?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "And your mother is alive?" daring than any effort of the imagination." individual and becomes the badge of a society." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, did not hear it also.' the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good