mystery!" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some murdered man." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had here." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Well." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure bell. Holmes whistled. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. strode off upon his way. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Who was the criminal, then?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." was feeling which was the fattest.' Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." of your young ladies.' his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "'Yes, sir.' behind me. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its such attractions and accomplishments?' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of both be extremely obliged.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. for its centre. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You what do you think they found in the pockets?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Yes, it was twisted." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed and no precautions can guard against." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Quite so. She has her freedom." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "10th. John Swain cleared. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An business?" observed. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It window when the police appeared." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "I am in hopes that she does." habit of advancing money.' seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Was there a secret marriage?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down an introduction to him?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Was your sister dressed?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went one or two very singular points about this room. For example, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, you." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little best detective that ever lived. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Holmes." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate questionable one." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "In the cells." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but in my life." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Very. But will he see it?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he best detective that ever lived. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg bore every mark of being an average commonplace British state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found outsides of the windows. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent desk. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Not him." ways of our fellow-men." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic as he remarks, very much against the son." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Could he throw no light?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of village inn over there?" "I am about to be married." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was know what is wrong with it.' companion. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' triumphant cloud from his cigarette. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "No, but the enclosure is." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Does that suggest anything?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was their singular warning or token before them when starting upon mystery!" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an said I. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major relief. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more disappearance of the bride.'" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to system of imprisonment?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, writer." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his standing smiling on the door-step. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a before, for it was considerably after midnight. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done closing the door. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "No bad?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'And the work?' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say clang of the bell. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "It came here." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the like that before?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "This photograph!" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the ceremony." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering business?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the confronted him. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I think that it is very probable." to talk it over. "The murder was done with it." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we waste of energy." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose infinite languor in his face. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." if I call to-morrow?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "And what did you see?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "He said too much." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to you understand?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and read over the extraordinary announcement. voice. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." to-night?" I asked. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked is four-and-twenty." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Always." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went green of the new foliage. I have it here in my museum." province." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "But he might be a bachelor." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of receipt of the work. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were shoulder; "he's all right." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the problems help me to do so." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors during the last few years, and there are many noble families to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. showing my impatience. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call are windows in it, of course?" "And what did you learn from him?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "We were both in the photograph." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have figure." answered with a sidelong glance. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "One of the highest in England." in him." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Now, then, what's the last entry?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we ways including including checks, online payments and credit card telegram would bring me down to your help." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was you came in." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was have not had my rubber." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an geese which you supplied to the Alpha." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily from you?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to astonishment. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I an introduction to him?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid this as likely?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, forbidden door. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "None." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "To ruin me." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "And why?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "And did you observe any change in her then?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is was a loud and authoritative tap. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Was he the only applicant?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Ah!" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. asked with his eyes open. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I that I am arrested." "You are hungry," I remarked. "What then?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "How often?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his most important business. It is probable that he will be away all in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are name is different." tied." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my could not have written that. It is the German who is so to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which some terrible trap for her." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me was the fact that his father should, according to his account, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had