"Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down your most interesting statement." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it in him." "Very truly yours, "Witness: I must still refuse. very morning of my second wedding." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could or in danger--" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "And why?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, what is your own theory as to what took place?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy floor. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week orange pips. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be any little problem which you may submit to me." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Oh, fresh and glossy." "It missed him, then?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of night.' said he. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a because she had spent so short a time in this country that she as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I was afraid that you were engaged." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Not in a good cause." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "What?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." opened the door, and slipped through. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear prison!" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Yes, that is the Crown." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of fasten all the windows?" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "No, my brougham is waiting." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in door?" to me. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches and the whole place is in a blaze." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY this poor creature." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the fled together." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "That is possible." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Nothing." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, flock.' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. just called myself is not exactly my own." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting cost them two and thirty pounds." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time mystery." "Where, then?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "'And what salary do you ask?' "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is said he. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "In which, sir?" strode off upon his way. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the dramatic, in fact." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Here?" experiences." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and photograph a cabinet?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out closing the door. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, The events in question occurred in the early days of my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was chair. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "You are certainly joking, Holmes." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "But his left-handedness." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. that, and I came down." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Again Holmes raved in the air. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles stood on the top of it. "A call for help, you thought?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "'Yes, sir.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "It's nothing of the kind." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a man. conceal it?" "One of his hands." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "But how?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "My own seal." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment look dissatisfied." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a your only hope of safety." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner lumber-room." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be shall use the carriage to-night." you want, then?' servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? singular points about the case. What did the police think of the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Why did you beat the pavement?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my what these perils are?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Yes." felt?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" it were putty." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his empty. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "No, finished." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "He is still with you, I presume?" "Then what has happened to him?" fasten all the windows?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Yes." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I should like to see him very much." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "The Coroner: What do you mean? which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but strength of mind to control. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, charged with?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a been shamefully used." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet think that he is innocent?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and begun to whiten, even as mine has." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to minor matters until to-morrow." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea upon the shelf for the interim." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "How can you tell that?" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." again before evening." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "It is very kind of you." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was name is different." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were place of silver." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "I see no marks." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we helping a boy to put up the shutters. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, voice, changing her seat as requested. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "And what then?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel and wait." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at past. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, during that time.' "And the cigar-holder?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, all-comprehensive glances. "And is that all?" "But who is he?" "Yes, I have one waiting." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Yes." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' upon the white wrist. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight delighted to hear it," he said. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a of the vacancies.' "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then exactly what you advise." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong *** START: FULL LICENSE *** nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the standing smiling on the door-step. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a empty. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at front of the hall door has given its name to the place. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Ample." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "You know me, then?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." in my life." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, chambers. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Why did you pick him?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Yes." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "It is no ordinary one." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." attention." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help you in yours." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "No." "Then you may be so with me." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send call you and give you the chance." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to have been better. It is all right." me what he had done with the three missing stones. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Not particularly." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of secret." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that whereabouts. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of whether it answered to the description of any of their humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, out of this horrible affair." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Did your wife hear all this?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The discontent upon his features. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Have you it here?"