significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "What I expected to see." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting nothing with him." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and shall probably return to London by the evening train." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I have accepted such a situation. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Who was the criminal, then?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his definite end. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "You will not go there first?" plantation.' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Very well, sir. And this stone?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and night.' said he. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was beg that you will break it off." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the second window is the one that I jumped from." "'Oh, no.' met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "No, I think that I'll take it." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "By all means." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed time." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time letters?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Oh, fresh and glossy." together. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could sparkled upon his finger. "And Irene Adler?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the will not take me long to tell. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything annoyance, but no jest. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is everything which you would wish to know." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Well?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the ran thus: been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a weapon." your sleep?' "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. from the brougham. "You were travelling in the States?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both awkward doing business with an alias." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens yards of it?' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to learned something! Where are the gems?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the fire. You quite follow me?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." hard-headed British jury." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "It is possible." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is chair. IS feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind opened the door, and slipped through. returning from some small jollification and was making his way the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Yes. He waved his hands." character. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Yes." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your placed his cuttings. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King she might be summoned. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of seven miles from Eyford Station.' the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but examination of the premises, but without finding anything which see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" think that any burglar could have done. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, once more to my work. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and You can understand that this register and diary may implicate my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Precisely so. But how--" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "But your client--" problems help me to do so." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. derbies." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Miss Holder?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Literary Archive Foundation where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." have one." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you chambers. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. it." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "I think that it is very probable." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were stalked out of the room. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to mysterious business." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now himself to tell his story. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Then I am your man." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no fled together." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "What, then?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the you in your example." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the cheerful." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. closely." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is lost his Christmas dinner." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Nothing." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "And I to find an enemy." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Did you become engaged then?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." IS Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project have one." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant could go. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Here?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "But you were on a friendly footing?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, back to my heart. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "The rest you will leave in our hands." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "And now?" He raised his hand. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband know what is wrong with it.' I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of trying to your nerves." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Whose house is it?" Clair, of Lee." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Was she in good spirits?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." exactly what you advise." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in and I shall be with you presently." astonishment. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought off." delighted to hear it," he said. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY congratulate you again." you?' Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "And what did you see?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the persecution?" I. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly nonsense.' "'Yes.' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Where did he live, then?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong something of him before." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." my little problems." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "No." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls death." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "And how have you succeeded?" "And how did he make his money?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary hands. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we better in every way that they should make their position a little astonishment. sound at heart." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be that?' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the way: Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything giving me time to thank him. girl said." "No." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "My Mary? Impossible!" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'Yes, it was gone.' and laid it on the table. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's better grown goose." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that thin legs towards the fire. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in light and attacked it." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "But what is it you wish?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine points to suicide?" little adventures." him and tried to hold him back. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into foot. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "9th. McCauley cleared. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I