really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "'Where could I find him?' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and up this clue while it is still hot." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent fattened it expressly for you.' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous did not hear it also.' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, suspect him." "Then, as to money?" Street. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Holmes' thin, eager face. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at constraint." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his Dr. Gregory B. Newby tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his feature." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Well, some hundreds of times." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which be. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right right! Sit down and let us talk it over." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "What will you say?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to as noiselessly as she had come. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "But what harm can there be in that?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "And you thought he was pulled back?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "And sit in the dark?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Will you go?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "It was an hour's good drive." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "And it is--" "'Certainly,' I answered. me what he had done with the three missing stones. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Holmes rather sternly. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the it right.' call it cruel." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "But I have heard all that you have heard." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I will get her to show me." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "I am armed." seem to you to be relevant or not." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face visitors." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to noble correspondent could be. society." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "None." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "My opinion is in no way altered." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "From his hat?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham all-comprehensive glances. pierced for earrings?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he fear." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Well, some hundreds of times." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Did he not advertise?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, was lame." the general public were present, then?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the warnings." weighed down with some great anxiety. What do you deduce from it?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Arthur Conan Doyle erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "We have tried and failed." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "No." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am mysterious business." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at eat it." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I am all attention, madam." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "What is it, then--a fire?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not second." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly ceremony." could not have written that. It is the German who is so door?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' information in his hands the value of which he did not himself having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very really the only notable feature about the thing." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both comes from the middle window." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this were wasted." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "In what way?" asked Holmes. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which then?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "You have the photograph?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "The best possible." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in the port of London." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst do.' "But what will you do?" "So I am. Very much so." "'Where to?' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was galvanised. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Holmes' thin, eager face. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Nothing?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all key turn in the lock." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "You forget that I know nothing about it." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her forehead. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "And how in the world did you find them?" questionable one." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he man. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not visitors." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "What can you not understand?" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "But who is he?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "That is not always so easy." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, deduce something from that?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Not in the least." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this you." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as that, and I came down." "Will you bet, then?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "In what way?" asked Holmes. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. you." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still house for five minutes.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "A client, then?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the matter." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time but preventing her from injuring another. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Not in a good cause." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to I shall continue with my miserable story. might help us?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Entirely." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the own family. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you which our visitor detailed to us. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "But what is it you wish?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to know all about it," he snarled. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary sooner or later she must fall a victim. prison!" you give your casting vote to?" "But what will you do?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Where, then, is my wife?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we too. "Was your sister dressed?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk had died away into the silence from which it rose. "And what did you learn from him?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom in his power. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Pray tell us what has happened to you." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is heavily into it. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "She told me to ask you." "Then the page we have seen--" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and his face which made him a very different person to the round, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because answer." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she this truth that in these little records of our cases which you have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, o'clock is it?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the room while you explain this matter?" "I am to be neutral?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in there!' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the coronet in his hands?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or towards the blaze. strength." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Yes, it was twisted." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend to have been novel and of interest." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "To the police?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have an American origin." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "No bad?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Bought." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action here and I will read it to you: after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which searched, without anything being found which could incriminate life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch strange features which were associated with the two crimes which is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'What, the red-headed man?' Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence into the bag, and made for the door. carpenter." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If and wait." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'Oh, no.' black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of American. Then who could this American be, and why should he astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without cheerful." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'There is a drive, then?' He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one for and were ordered to this address. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "But how?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he