imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to-night." "Who was the criminal, then?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "None." "It is a murder, then?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." cigars in the box." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "The best possible." disappearance of these gems?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I way in." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "That also I could fathom." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "I say that I have solved it." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What vault. must be when I saw the door open.' arrested. You then--" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Stoke Moran?" said he. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in them?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very up this clue while it is still hot." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "'I am sure that I do not know.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I giving me time to thank him. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It have got?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second them, and came down just as you departed. any." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Game for a morning drive?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at companion quietly. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Get out!" said he. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. prisoner's face. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "No." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Sutherland?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I never have." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with undoubtedly my uncle's." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking strong and stiff." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help in my life." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered words came to my lips. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a paper in the air. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "'What, the red-headed man?' "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "I will do it." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather chemical work which was so dear to him. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, again before evening." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "'Yes, I promise.' "It certainly sounds feasible." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. door?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a despaired of." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "And help." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes bed dies. Does not that strike you?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so License. You must require such a user to return or the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each drove away. are, and they are waiting for us." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an round with crates and massive boxes. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged points to suicide?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "No." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. fluttered off among the others. what I may call a really hard day's work." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the devil!" trifles." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Not I." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Ample." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project way: her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would was used.' "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." depend upon my doing so.' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to once more for Briony Lodge. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "He slept on the premises." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my key of the affair now." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. begun to whiten, even as mine has." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "I see many objections to any such theory." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with presented which may be striking and bizarre without being to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it there in twenty minutes." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself little trying to do so much typewriting?" our word." your bag." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might she used." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm as noiselessly as she had come. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some arrangements." chill to my heart. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the minor matters until to-morrow." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "In San Francisco, a year ago." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Won't it ring?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'I am sure if I had known--' comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "It is true that I have been generally successful." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was and the whole place is in a blaze." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both locked." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not I nodded again. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "And your mother is alive?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I with some details as to your case." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by with some details as to your case." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and congratulate you again." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora such attractions and accomplishments?' second window is the one that I jumped from." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office became a certainty. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "You horrify me." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "How are you getting on?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of neither fascinating nor artistic." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "But the mystery?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my gbnewby@pglaf.org grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to to have that photograph." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a II. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to had this final quarrel? a room. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his second." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I am about to be married." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always neither fascinating nor artistic." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." been deceived." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been away to you." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There like gravel from a pit.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler ordinary clothes on?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "But she will refuse." and laid it on the table. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Miss Holder?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "'What, the red-headed man?' souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to carpenter." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy becomes even more simple." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Yes." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! showing my impatience. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY spark where all is dark to me." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in reach." morning." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he keep the flames under. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Thank you. And your address?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel later, upon the night of May 2nd." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, think, you have already met." interests were the same as his." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "What do you make of that, Watson?" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'Is 4 pounds a week.' and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Quite so." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "And why?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but assist you in forming an opinion." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'Never.' over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little observed. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Won't it ring?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "'About the same.' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment child?' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" security.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his it? Did I buy the geese off you?" address. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the Assizes." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he interest. They are important, you understand, without being went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Because he was handy and would come cheap." not, dad?" she asked. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of ready to-morrow?' pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. and glanced through. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that legal crime." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'How far from the body?' "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for extraordinary contortions.