"'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "You did not overhear what they said?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the Again Holmes raved in the air. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Game for a morning drive?" "How did he come?" had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that you can jump it.' singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Where is it, then?" him!" "You were travelling in the States?" Lee, in the county of Kent." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Countess of Morcar's?" "You horrify me!" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Clair, of Lee." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the had died away into the silence from which it rose. to have that photograph." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms morning." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I the inner apartment." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Witness: I must still refuse. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security salesman. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning residence of the great financier. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened present." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Not in the least." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "How do you know, then?" all that?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Perhaps I have." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is past. in. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "There are none." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the is four-and-twenty." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I do." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "And how did he make his money?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "'Most admirably.' dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a touch that coronet?' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on one else, I think." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "No bad?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. opportunities to fix the problem. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "And Miss Sutherland?" Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "He said too much." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "'About the same.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the south-west, I see." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and have one." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the business at Coburg Square is serious." persecution?" writers could invent nothing more crude." "What!" he roared. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was quickly through a disagreeable task. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his away into the river." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door me, and I could not think that his explanation of the least a fellow-countryman. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another for and were ordered to this address. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Certainly." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick fluttered off among the others. I shall continue with my miserable story. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Murdered?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call could not account in any way for the presence of the missing her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Ten will be early enough." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "But we can't all be." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Then I am your man." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this note?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination minor matters until to-morrow." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a with the outside air!" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. was a lad." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Yes, that is the Crown." "On Monday." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the coroner come to?" made his money." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I am in hopes that she does." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "'I have already given you my word.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am and effective." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and less than 26s. 4d. invisible to me," I remarked. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." kind enough to tell me what I should do." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came south, for the country is more deserted there." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "The vanishing of the lady." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. light and attacked it." me where it went to?" tightly behind him. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, distinguish the words: "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I say that I have solved it." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her looking up at the numbers of the houses." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "My dear Holmes!" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish companion imperturbably. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Could he throw no light?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Yes, I have one waiting." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now definite end. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "What of the rat, then?" It may be so in this case, also." went to the Alpha were town bred." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he promised to bring home. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the other, as fresh and trim as possible. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, gone. my friend's incisive reasoning. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper sparkled upon his finger. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "I was afraid that you were engaged." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Cross for the Continent." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls felt?" place of silver." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were outbreak?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Yes." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be ourselves in the office." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I will get her to show me." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "No." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "'Certainly not.' At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had strong and stiff." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room already referred to. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful for and were ordered to this address. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the disturbance in my wife." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not fled together." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "But not more so than I to find you." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass was feeling which was the fattest.' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are your sleep?' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers young Openshaw's." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some fasten all the windows?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six least a most suspicious remark." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' a little more before I quite committed myself. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people him and tried to hold him back. writing, and yet I know it well." strength of mind to control. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was overpowering excitement and concern. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival held up the lantern and gazed about him. "May I see it?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "That you are never beaten." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying I am not easy in my mind about them." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much colour had been driven from his face. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you intrusion of other matters." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Gutenberg-tm License. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you me what he had done with the three missing stones. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "'Entirely.' returned to France?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is as he remarks, very much against the son." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "And Irene Adler?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's rooms." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there