whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Pray continue your narrative." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at corner of the building. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Cross for the Continent." "If I can be of use." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to upon the white wrist. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin as yours." towards the blaze. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his relief. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a fuss that is made over them." "And is that all?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" official police." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat knowledge of the world." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "No more words. Get out!" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "It is very kind of you." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted peculiar to him. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the never came back." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I have my revolver," said I. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I will try. What is it?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Yes, it was twisted." acted in my house last night?" happened." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "What!" he roared. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "So I am. Very much so." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "I have solved it." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I started for the Temple to see my husband. know what is wrong with it.' it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "And I say east," said my patient. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "So I am. Very much so." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Two days later this same performance was gone through under bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. signal between you and your father? "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof was keenly on my guard against him. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who death." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. know what is wrong with it.' "'Why that?' I asks. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Doctor, of the paper and the date." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "What?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into coroner's jury." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Stolen, then." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the nothing with him." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, when you have done it." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against was used.' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the green of the new foliage. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my woven round him. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind brain must have something in it." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of south, for the country is more deserted there." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "What is it, then--a fire?" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "'Yes, sir.' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the of Mr. Rucastle's." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "And how in the world did you find them?" "'Certainly,' I answered. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I think it very unlikely." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a mysterious end." answered with a sidelong glance. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't voice, changing her seat as requested. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Upon what point?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was read over the extraordinary announcement. writer." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I am armed." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end cigar and let me expound." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, business." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to recover the gem." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a together. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that door?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so derbies." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get late." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are felt the room to be a little close.' something of him before." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Mary, has deserted me." important." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better newspaper selections." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "But you have hopes?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "How long did she speak to this Alice?" of this gang." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his made his money." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Nothing." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these taking in every detail of the apartment. chair. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "No, thank goodness, she did not." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room of the way of danger. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from forebodings. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Yes, I have one waiting." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that business at Coburg Square is serious." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Count Von Kramm." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. arrangements." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' place, I think that there is good ground to think that the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a for securing the situation." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I I shall communicate with you." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Watson," he said cordially. presume?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel father's place of business?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, thin legs towards the fire. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his think you a quite exceptional woman." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very The summons was a brief and urgent one. married her." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "It goes to the housekeeper's room." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which him. "Yes." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'You cannot say what it was?' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and suddenly upon us." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the fear." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in helping a boy to put up the shutters. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, rooms." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill light and attacked it." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and the inner apartment." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, which was all perfectly true. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Yes." "But I have heard all that you have heard." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door and laid it on the table. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An a monotonous occupation." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I on re-entering her father's house?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman and no precautions can guard against." "You are hungry," I remarked. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a noble correspondent could be. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "No." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had that, and I came down." "Upon what point?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and make me his representative both with the servants and with the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Very much so." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I came to find a friend." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without me have 200 pounds?' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. here." and glanced through. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned London for the present?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well humiliation." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Sutherland. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But how?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at own family. and I shall be with you presently." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off suddenly upon us." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' green of the new foliage. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what sufficient punishment." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you good for you to do.' "Seven!" I answered. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question roused himself from his reverie. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin matter over." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his possible that we could bring him back to her? morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "And the murderer?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "I say that I have solved it." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "And sit in the dark?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I saw her in conversation with her maid." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "You think so, too?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "No, but the enclosure is." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the coroner come to?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered confronted him. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather,