playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one in him." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. business." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "'I shall certainly be there.' His smile broadened. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, and all of them with the keenest interest. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Could he throw no light?" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own do." "Stoke Moran?" said he. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "When did she vanish, then?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "The best possible." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father third from London." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "The vanishing of the lady." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. official police." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary absolutely follow my advice in every respect." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the you want, then?' pictures, libraries, or plate. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "It looks newer than the other things?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you what is your own theory as to what took place?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I never have." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'What would be the hours?' I asked. happened." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the window when the police appeared." business came to an end." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "I shall most certainly do so." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters quick march!" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come posted to-day." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I case-book, which he consulted. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the respectable self." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have eat it." "Then how many are there?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "No?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that telegram would bring me down to your help." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it is a common subject for conversation. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell photograph a cabinet?" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The whole matter to your consideration." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six happened." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally you in your example." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "It is solved." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so way in everything. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a do.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the official police." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of observed. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young time." "My dear Holmes!" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance in a friendly supper." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can crime." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a present strange and interesting features that it is no easy point in the dark hollow of his hand. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "There is the writing." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed sooner or later she must fall a victim. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Yes, all." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a main points of my analysis." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Certainly, madam." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. fishes. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Did you become engaged then?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Texas, I think." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." I am not easy in my mind about them." "Yes, from Horsham." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "I do." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "What then?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Get out!" said he. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from strength of mind to control. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she nothing with him." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my appeal." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply in his hands." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which room. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have nothing of it?" experiences." "But I have heard all that you have heard." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the McCarthy." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I so far?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now voice, changing her seat as requested. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "But we can't all be." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we held up the lantern and gazed about him. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "On the contrary, this is the right side." you for a few hours?" What do you deduce from it?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at good-night and bustled off upon her way. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "He said too much." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "May I see it?" of the way of danger. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying how narrow had been my escape. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "A greater distance to travel." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, late." plantation.' Arthur Conan Doyle There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided official police." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Just look it up, then." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'Certainly not.' "That was it, sir." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Not yet." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the dead, shall be safe with us." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was hopeless attempt at recovering them." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute brain must have something in it." read it out to me." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and side. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "There is the writing." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "This photograph!" the morning and make my own way in the world.' cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the house with me." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man away in different directions, and I went off to make my own their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "An enemy?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Stoke Moran?" said he. married her." the station." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very DISSOLVED. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the nursery. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. trifles." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. them, and came down just as you departed. legal crime." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Where does the thing come from?' to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I to you." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "But what harm can there be in that?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Did your wife hear all this?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I am all attention, madam." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Chief Executive and Director characteristics, but those are the more obvious." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Foundation A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our coroner's jury." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "He slept on the premises." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "To an end?" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I if I call to-morrow?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. at home. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Ample.' little adventures." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that garden below. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated help us in this matter." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "What, then?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only several quiet little villages up there." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Oh, fresh and glossy." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for secret." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will served to weaken the effect. "To an end?" hardly wander." the Red-headed League." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I bachelor.' "Has he come with you to-night?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Yes." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small