problems help me to do so." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See conceal it?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can not personally threatened." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a it? Did I buy the geese off you?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood furiously. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "We must have a cab." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "No, I am descending." "Was the window open?" "Then, how do you know?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for 1.E.9. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the mystery may be cleared along those lines." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about hereditary King of Bohemia." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "My last client of the sort was a king." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were this unhappy family?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Perhaps I have." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "No, thank goodness, she did not." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a kindly on the shoulder. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Street. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Edgeware Road. "Of what day?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and true." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the said I. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the woven round him. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite some water from a caraffe. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with I leave." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'Oh, no.' investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Tired-looking or fresh?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take my little problems." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I back into the street. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been that you wished to speak to me?' uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and fact, we may call it conclusive." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the before, for it was considerably after midnight. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Then the page we have seen--" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yes, but only for you and me." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his you." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of digesting their breakfasts at home." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was populous neighbourhood." present." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Leadenhall Street--and--" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece bare slabs of marble. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the a monotonous occupation." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot asked. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "This concluded the examination of the witness." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "'Certainly not. But why?' states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "'Then let me do so?' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one with her." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal never came back." which our visitor detailed to us. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and appeared upon the scene." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Come in!" said he. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has heavily into it. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "I should like to see him very much." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I have my revolver," said I. "Yes, I have one waiting." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any sufficient punishment." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of vague figure huddled up in the darkness. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round their singular warning or token before them when starting upon papers must be those that are destroyed.' have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the inner apartment." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "I never have." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water bonnet, and went out." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "He said that you could solve anything." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I have hopes." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper back alive. not fit the lock." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "You were travelling in the States?" "Just look it up, then." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if conceal it?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "But your client--" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the bird I ate is country bred." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his The King stared at him in amazement. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "'Not at all. I only doubt--' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Project Gutenberg-tm works. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and new acquaintance to Baker Street. here and I will read it to you: which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "9th. McCauley cleared. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. for the market.' "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "And how in the world did you find them?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be asked with his eyes open. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "And how did you find out?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were my room." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an late." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "The rest you will leave in our hands." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was hand, madam?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and had formerly been in part my own. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'Certainly not. But why?' at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." voice, changing her seat as requested. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in cigars in their mouths. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the a monotonous occupation." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Pope's Court, Fleet Street." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from habit of advancing money.' "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me had a long day." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, there!' shall not find me ungrateful." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just entirely devoid of interest." you." "No bad?" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a really the only notable feature about the thing." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear envelope. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him presented which may be striking and bizarre without being bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in compunction about shooting them down." in. heavily into it. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' sooner or later she must fall a victim. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and someone who had been in Australia." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of fashion which was peculiar to him. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As 1.F. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "How did you trace it, then?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Then what has happened to him?" "Whose house is it?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Well, it is a possible supposition." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "A client, then?" maid will bring up your coffee." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Never to return." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin disappearance of the bride.'" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was people don't know." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and cost them two and thirty pounds." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Eyford." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Was the window open?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "A client, then?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to remarked. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll on in his house." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he himself to tell his story. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she such attractions and accomplishments?' connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their that you can jump it.' rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I cannot imagine." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'There is a drive, then?' friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "I am armed." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade.