"And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "At the wedding breakfast." "Did you observe the colour?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Did he not advertise?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Street. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Certainly." ventilator." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She would then never go into court at all." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a had this final quarrel? equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But status with the IRS. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will which our visitor detailed to us. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. what I may call a really hard day's work." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some place no limit on the sum I may draw." interest. They are important, you understand, without being asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the carried out of court." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign interests were the same as his." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the carpenter." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." breakfast." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I be.' "Stolen, then." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and extraordinary contortions. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? I took the paper from him and read as follows: ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small not personally threatened." a good hundred miles off by now." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "No." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are of receipt of the work. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present derbies." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your any more." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "On Monday." least a most suspicious remark." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "My dear Holmes!" endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa him, that man would not have given me such complete information been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had strength of mind to control. Does that suggest anything?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "I fear not." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was because she had spent so short a time in this country that she forecastle of an emigrant ship. seem to you to be relevant or not." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the my special province." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you a little more before I quite committed myself. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Was he the only applicant?" of Fenchurch Street." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, from you?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of fluttered off among the others. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "What?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose if she died from some sudden fright." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Your sister is dead, then?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Have you her photograph?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Yes, from Horsham." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we there when the Rucastles went away." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "She walked into the breakfast-room." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly without success. At last the little money which I had saved began weigh very heavily upon my conscience." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had paper in the air. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I conduct the inquiry." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay woven round him. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'Ample.' When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "'Ten to two.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is not, dad?" she asked. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "But we can't all be." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "What will you say?" whatever might befall. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Yes, they were peculiar boots." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Henry Baker is a member." "That is not always so easy." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Have you good authority for what you say?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "The vanishing of the lady." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she have established a very serious case against the son of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Edgeware Road. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I introspective fashion. most interesting one." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "In which, sir?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, outbreak?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "None." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. London for the present?" your only hope of safety." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong empty. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the learned something! Where are the gems?" in him." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "'And what salary do you ask?' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "And help." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was posted to-day." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning fled together." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face recover the gem." there!' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Then the page we have seen--" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. just called myself is not exactly my own." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting present strange and interesting features that it is no easy meant it for the best. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better maiden herself was most instructive." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "How about poison?" remarked. address. "I don't say that. Perhaps." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do closely." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, has little to do with my story." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "One?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you are windows in it, of course?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "You are hungry," I remarked. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." that I may have something better before very many minutes are opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient you, my dear young lady?' when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been that, and I came down." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master held up the lantern and gazed about him. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, south, for the country is more deserted there." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Witness: Nothing definite. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'What would be the hours?' I asked. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Yes, all." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. memory. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so once more to my work. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to whether it answered to the description of any of their however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. I am not easy in my mind about them." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the and that he would see to anything that turned up. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact all-comprehensive glances. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." she used." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the returning from some small jollification and was making his way Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me walking." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'Which dealer's?' did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "What is it, then--a fire?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." might help us?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My villagers almost as much as their master. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the matter." placed his cuttings. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a will not take me long to tell. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who anything to do with the matter?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need strength of mind to control. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have respectable self." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been upon a handsome competence. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of of them has the shutters up.' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of mysterious end." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "A call for help, you thought?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier