"No more words. Get out!" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable was once confined in the cab my mission was practically granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in astonishment. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "What then?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. trifles." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out thin legs towards the fire. that there was nothing in it, after all." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" chance at all." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys I shall communicate with you." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses your billet.' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "And is that all?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been corner of the building. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "What! a murderous attack?" everything which you would wish to know." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in The events in question occurred in the early days of my place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "You have a clue?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. more solid." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. article?" straightened it out again. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. are windows in it, of course?" to me. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. approach us with offers to donate. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to telegram would bring me down to your help." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side desk. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "On Monday." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable them?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried future lives." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "My own seal." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he passage and a tap at the door. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your husband's writing, madam." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated will not take me long to tell. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and neither fascinating nor artistic." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "And you can do nothing until then?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if happened." "Yes." "What can it mean?" I gasped. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "It was an hour's good drive." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Who was the criminal, then?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "I cannot imagine." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by carriage. It was a chestnut." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a sparkled upon his finger. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "My stepfather's business papers." awkward doing business with an alias." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no was a loud and authoritative tap. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "He might." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door detained." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Can I be of assistance?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I cannot imagine." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "This photograph!" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who a good hundred miles off by now." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting habit of advancing money.' is acting for the best. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "How did you trace it, then?" "You think that he is dead?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from sparkled upon his finger. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who child?' Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you you came in." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin me." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Yes, certainly." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Ha! you find it so?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, that the gas is not laid on in his house?" prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he gone. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "How did that help you?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the outside. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' conduct the inquiry." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a friend's singular character. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of a light. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." nonsense.' do you make of it all?" "BALLARAT." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "I see no marks." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not singular points about the case. What did the police think of the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. gigantic client. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make hurried by. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to shoulder; "he's all right." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. him and tried to hold him back. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts any little problem which you may submit to me." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. purpose of examination. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have wedding?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "It came here." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "May I see it?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to morning." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "'Where to?' maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from the driver. it were putty." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the meant it for the best. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late question. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than affair. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Witness: Nothing definite. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project present." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." entirely devoid of interest." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Where did he live, then?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I with you alone." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he all?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the chance at all." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been to a light-house. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even thin legs towards the fire. ceremony." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Was she in good spirits?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "None." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I night.' said he. business matters.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" annoyance, but no jest. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "But of what society?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the detective. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what with some details as to your case." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship your troubles." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious as this. Pray let me have the details." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more cigars in their mouths. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one go back?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and imbecility!" he cried. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you closely." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Holmes. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "No bad?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." nonsense.' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we stammered. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed to-night." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some question," said Holmes, smiling. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with one's self under obligations.' difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Then I am your man." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the jewels which you have stolen?' neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "What is it, then--a fire?"