and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do head. So long, then!" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "You did not overhear what they said?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. But Holmes shook his head gravely. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one second window is the one that I jumped from." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation eavesdroppers?' chamber." might help us?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I fear not." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his me have 200 pounds?' "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "How did he come?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and important." guilty one." have got?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not your sleep?' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular which are rolled in Rotterdam." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could it." "What shall I do?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would be.' "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their morning." "So I am. Very much so." look upon these things in a different way." Count Von Kramm." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop to-night's adventure." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and do." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a vague figure huddled up in the darkness. in him." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Can I be of assistance?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and asked. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "That you are never beaten." handed it to him. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by him nearly every evening." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in you came in." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a them, and came down just as you departed. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to breakfast?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "She will not sell." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. details." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Witness: Nothing definite. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth upon the shelf for the interim." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last salesman. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the not personally threatened." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "What, then?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak It may be so in this case, also." time." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do do." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, signal between you and your father? I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "How long did she speak to this Alice?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are business." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely help us in this matter." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "I have hopes." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Gutenberg-tm License. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the Red-headed League." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "What do you make of that, Watson?" be. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the matter?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the matters immensely." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "You have compromised yourself seriously." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly when your master had gone out." "I never have." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." developed." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found happened." you give your casting vote to?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Your French gold?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to girl said." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue future lives." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building gone. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by together. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." bare slabs of marble. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "But to whom?" that, and I came down." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for standing smiling on the door-step. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "In the cells." "No good news?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "What can it mean?" I gasped. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our than was visible to me." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a o'clock is it?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not most important business. It is probable that he will be away all by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. child?' all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "You did not overhear what they said?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith must compliment you." where we are going." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' corner of the building. will not take me long to tell. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us purpose of examination. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "But how?" there is a decided draught." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'Certainly not.' lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up ran thus: husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, shall not find me ungrateful." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I have a cab outside." death." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Oh, fresh and glossy." nothing with him." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Absolutely?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the written, and locked the door of the office after me. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" I shall continue with my miserable story. Leadenhall Street--and--" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Dirty?" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, any more." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened are windows in it, of course?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and strong reason behind." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. call it cruel." such person." me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" if only as a check to my own memory." indeed happy." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I was sure that I might rely on you." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's My friend smiled. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. had died away into the silence from which it rose. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "What office?" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round for and were ordered to this address. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, be best to do. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Can I be of assistance?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Will you bet, then?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal must compliment you." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "None." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with outside." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," that offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were you?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "My dear Holmes!" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "On Monday." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for excitement. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by him to go away.' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where ran thus: "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "By train from Waterloo." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp gigantic client. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Witness: It was. your most interesting statement." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "And now?" He raised his hand. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided which was all perfectly true. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under go from here to the Strand." stepfather?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Where did he live, then?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. wanted for ourselves." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every of." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" pierced for earrings?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since flock.' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of unprecedented a position." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** beg that you will break it off." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds to have been novel and of interest." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "And how?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been